The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing subsisting court rulings and ongoing legal processes arising from the party’s leadership crisis.
INEC made its position known in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony. The commission stated that it could not act on requests to recognise or upload on its website the list of national officers purportedly elected at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the electoral body, its decision is guided by existing court judgments and pending litigation relating to the internal leadership dispute within the opposition party.
INEC stressed that recognising any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts would be improper and contrary to the rule of law, noting that such action could amount to prejudging the outcome of the cases.
“In the light of the above pending suits, your request is prejudiced and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the pending appeals,” the commission said.
It added that, “In the circumstances, and in obedience to the rule of law and subsisting court orders, the commission is unable to accede to the demand to recognise or update the list of the national officers said to have emerged from the PDP National Convention of 15th–16th November 2025.”
INEC’s stance further underscores the deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, as the party awaits judicial resolution of the disputes surrounding its national leadership.