INEC has rejected a request to recognise the national working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Turaki, citing subsisting court judgements restraining it from doing so.
In a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the commission said it was legally bound to obey final court judgements which expressly barred it from recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the PDP’s National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The letter, addressed to Akintayo Balogun and Co., legal representatives of the PDP, stated that INEC could not publish or update the list of national officers purportedly elected at the Ibadan convention due to existing judicial orders.
INEC explained that the request followed several letters written by different PDP legal representatives between November 14 and November 21, 2025, all demanding recognition of the officers said to have emerged from the convention.
The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. With their support, the PDP held a national convention in Ibadan in November, producing a new set of national officers.
However, the convention was preceded by conflicting court rulings.
While some Federal High Court judgements in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged breaches of party constitution and electoral laws, a High Court in Oyo State cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the convention.
Opponents of the exercise, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, later formed a parallel national working committee, board of trustees and national executive committee.
INEC said it carefully reviewed the demands for recognition against existing laws and court decisions, stressing that two final judgements of the Federal High Court in Abuja were central to its decision.
These include Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025 delivered on November 14, 2025.
According to the commission, both judgements expressly restrained INEC from supervising, recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the PDP convention.
Although notices of appeal have been filed against the judgements, INEC noted that the filing of an appeal does not amount to a stay of execution.
“Until the judgements are set aside or stayed by a competent court, the commission remains bound to obey and give full effect to them in line with Section 287(3) of the Constitution,” the letter stated.
INEC also addressed an interim order issued by the Oyo State High Court, noting that it had been struck out of the suit for want of jurisdiction and that an interim order could not override subsisting final judgements.
The commission further disclosed that the PDP had filed another suit seeking an order mandating INEC to recognise the NWC elected at the Ibadan convention, adding that the existence of pending suits and appeals made the request for recognition prejudicial.
INEC said it had communicated the same position to PDP representatives during a meeting held on December 19, 2025.
