By David Lawani
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally declined to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing subsisting court judgments and multiple unresolved legal processes arising from the party’s leadership crisis.
In a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC said it could not accede to requests to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have emerged from the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Commission said its position was guided strictly by binding judicial decisions and ongoing litigation touching on the legality of the convention and its outcomes.
It stressed that recognising any faction of the opposition party while appeals and related suits remain pending would amount to prejudging the cases and undermining the rule of law.
INEC pointed to two final judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division—Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025—which expressly restrained the Commission from supervising, monitoring, recognising or accepting the outcome of the PDP convention pending full compliance with court orders.
*Commission cites binding judgments, warns against prejudicing appeals
While acknowledging that notices of appeal have been filed against the decisions, INEC emphasised that an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution.
It noted that, under Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it remains constitutionally bound to obey and give effect to subsisting court orders until they are set aside or stayed by a competent court.
The Commission also dismissed reliance on interim orders issued by the Oyo State High Court in a related suit, explaining that INEC had been struck out of that case for want of jurisdiction and that interim orders cannot override final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.
INEC further disclosed that the PDP itself has instituted another suit seeking to compel the Commission to recognise the leadership allegedly elected at the Ibadan convention, a development which, it said, further underscores the impropriety of taking any action while the matters are before the courts.
“In the light of the pending suits and appeals, your request is prejudiced and cannot be acceded to,” the letter stated, adding that the Commission would not recognise or update the list of national officers purportedly elected at the convention until all legal processes are conclusively resolved.
The Commission said it had clearly reiterated this position to PDP representatives during a meeting at its headquarters on December 19, reaffirming its commitment to due process, judicial authority and strict adherence to the rule of law.
