By Peter Omopo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing subsisting court judgments and unresolved legal processes.
INEC made this known in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and obtained by TVC News.
According to the commission, it received several requests from legal representatives and stakeholders of the PDP, asking it to recognise and update its website with the names of national officers elected at the party’s National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, emerged as PDP National Chairman at the convention, which was attended by delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory but was marred by disputes over zoning, accreditation delays and allegations of last-minute manoeuvres by rival factions.
INEC said it reviewed the requests in line with extant laws, available facts and existing court judgments directly related to the matter.
The commission cited two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja—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—which it said expressly restrained it from supervising, monitoring, recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on November 15–16, 2025, or any similar exercise.
INEC noted that the judgments, which it described as final and binding on all parties, remain in force despite the filing of notices of appeal, stressing that an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution.
“Until the judgments 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 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the commission stated.
INEC also addressed interim orders issued by the Oyo State High Court, explaining that it had been struck out of the suit for lack of jurisdiction and that such interim orders could not override subsisting final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.
The commission further disclosed that another suit filed by the PDP is currently pending before the Federal High Court in Ibadan, where the party is seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the NWC and members of the National Executive Committee allegedly elected at the Ibadan convention.
“In light of the pending suits, the request is prejudicial and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the appeals,” INEC said.
The commission added that, in obedience to the rule of law and existing court orders, it is unable to recognise or update the list of national officers said to have emerged from the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan.
