The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined to recognise the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, citing conflicting court judgements and unresolved legal disputes.
INEC’s decision follows a request by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, which is backed by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, seeking formal recognition as the party’s authentic national leadership.
In November, the Makinde–Mohammed faction convened a national convention in Ibadan, Oyo state, where a new set of national officers was elected. However, the convention was preceded by multiple court rulings that created uncertainty around its legality.
While some federal high courts in Abuja had issued orders restraining the PDP from holding the convention over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and electoral laws, a high court in Ibadan granted approval for the exercise and directed INEC to monitor it.
The convention further deepened internal divisions within the party. A rival faction led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), opposed the Ibadan convention and subsequently announced a parallel national working committee, board of trustees (BoT), and national executive committee (NEC).
In rejecting the request to recognise Turaki as national chairman, INEC referenced the subsisting and conflicting court judgements, stating that it could not accord recognition to any faction of the party until the legal issues are conclusively resolved.
