The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come under fire from a factional leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for failing to acknowledge the party’s National Working Committee, which is chaired by Kabiru Turaki.
The faction insisted that there is no split inside the PDP in a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
The PDP section that supports Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike is said to be little more than a group of buddies.
It further stated that they would await a court ruling about the party’s leadership because the case was still unresolved.
Recall that earlier on Tuesday, INEC declared it would not recognize the Peoples Democratic Party’s Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, citing ongoing court rulings and unresolved legal proceedings related to the party’s leadership issue.
INEC stated in a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, its secretary, that it was unable to respond to requests to recognize or post on its website the list of national officers allegedly chosen at the PDP National Convention, which took place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The committee clarified that current court decisions and continuing legal actions concerning the party’s internal leadership issue served as the basis for its conclusion.
INEC emphasized that while the case is still ongoing in court, it would be inappropriate to acknowledge any opposing party factional officers.
Ememobong countered that the Turaki-led group is still the real PDP leaders.
He asserted that INEC is under pressure to reject the Turaki-led leadership, but he also argued that the commission is obligated by the constitution to uphold and preserve democracy.
“The Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership reaffirms that there is no split within the party, both legally and practically. This reiteration is required in light of the letter from @inecnigeria outlining how Federal High Court rulings prevented them from recognizing and uploading the data of our duly elected leadership at the convention in Ibadan.
“The aforementioned rulings have been appealed, and an application for a stay of execution has been filed against the rulings. The Court of Appeal will hear the case and render a decision shortly.” While that is being awaited, it is important to note that INEC observed and took part in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention’s date and location were decided upon unanimously. INEC also received the convention’s notice, which the Commission has unethically suppressed in court on multiple occasions. Additionally, INEC kept a close eye on the primaries in Ekiti and Osun, with the Turaki-led NWC providing updates. We acknowledge the tremendous pressure INEC has faced (after all, “he who pays the piper dictates the tune”), but we also remind them that their first constitutional duty is to Nigerians and to defend and uphold democracy.
“We hope that INEC is minded by the Supreme Court’s rulings, particularly in the SDP case, which was the most recent delivered last week, prohibiting INEC from meddling in the internal leadership affairs of political parties, even though INEC claims to be neutral and is awaiting the court’s decision on the matter. Since Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN controls all of the Party’s legal institutions and administrative structure, it is still true that there is no division inside the PDP. The current National Working Committee, led by Turaki SAN, has met with and been acknowledged by the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, State Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Caucuses, former Governors and Ministers, and numerous other prominent stakeholder groups during the last month. The committee of Wike and Anyanwu’s pals cannot legitimately be referred to as a PDP group because democracy depends on majority rule, INEC must keep in mind, the statement stated.
Ememobong further charged INEC with bias and hypocrisy, saying that the election umpire is determined to destroy the PDP and end Nigerian democracy.
Finally, after our meeting with the Commission last week and our subsequent correspondence outlining pertinent issues pertaining to the current situation, we should normally not reply to this letter other than to highlight the hypocrisy and persistent bias that have totally tainted the electoral umpire’s actions. INEC has consistently demonstrated bias in this case, even in court, when they neglected or declined to submit papers that they knew about and had in their control, clearly to support those determined to destroy the PDP and end democracy. What was the purpose of last Friday’s forced meeting if INEC, led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN was aware that the case was in court? Except to fabricate a faction’s image in order to defend their acts and inactions.
“As we reposition the party for electoral success in the upcoming elections, we therefore urge all Nigerians, particularly our members, to remain calm, resolute, and continue to support the rebirth and renaissance moves of the party,” the statement continued.
