The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing subsisting court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

In response to the decision, the Turaki-led NWC’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, maintained that the party leadership was legitimate and emphasised that there was no faction within the PDP.

However, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the Nyesom Wike-backed faction, hailed the move as a faithful adherence to court judgments.

PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, where Turaki and other members of the NWC were elected on November 16 for four-year terms.

However, Wike, along with his allies, Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Anyanwu, insisted they still held the positions of Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.

While the governors facilitated a smooth handover from former chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure officially ended on December 9, the Wike-aligned faction went ahead on December 8 to appoint Mohammed, Anyanwu, and others as 13 members of a 60-day caretaker committee.

Both factions have since been vying for INEC’s official recognition.

Consequently, INEC, in a letter dated December 22 and addressed to the Turaki-led NWC lawyers, Akintayo Balogun & Co, and signed by Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, titled “Re: Demand for Recognition and Update of the List of the National Officers Elected at the Purported 2025 Elective National Convention of PDP,” obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday, stated that it could not recognise or update the list of PDP national officers allegedly elected at the November convention, citing adherence to the law and existing court orders.

The letter read in part: “The commission has carefully considered the demands in the light of all material facts, extant laws, and most importantly, subsisting court judgments touching directly on the subject matter.

“You may wish to note that there are two subsisting final judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, namely: Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Austine Nwachukwu & 2 Ors. v. INEC & 8 Ors., delivered on October 31, 2025; and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & 4 Ors., delivered on November 14, 2025.

“Both judgments, which are final in nature and binding on all parties, expressly restrained the commission from supervising, monitoring, recognising, or in any manner whatsoever accepting the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, or any other date, pending compliance with the orders of the court.

“While the commission is aware that notices of appeal have been filed against the said judgments, it is settled law that the mere filing of an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution. Until the said 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 further highlighted the interim orders issued by the High Court of Oyo State in Suit No. 1/1336/2025, Folahan Malomo Adelabi v. PDP & Ors., noting that its name had been removed from the suit due to lack of jurisdiction. It added that, in any case, an interim order could not override or nullify existing final judgments of courts of equal or higher authority.

It stated in part: “In addition, there is also a suit filed by your client in Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, PDP v. INEC, wherein it sought an order mandating the commission to recognise the National Working Committee and members of the National Executive Committee elected by the National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, as the Executive Committee of the PDP in all matters pertaining to her, including the conduct of primary elections for political offices and the submission of PDP’s list of candidates for any election to be conducted by the commission.

“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 November 15–16, 2025.

“The above points were reiterated to your client during the commission’s meeting with them on Friday, December 19, 2025.”

In response, the Turaki-led PDP maintained that no faction existed within the party.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ememobong, in a statement on Tuesday, clarified that the judgments referenced by INEC had been appealed and that applications for stay of execution had been filed, adding that the Court of Appeal was expected to hear the cases and deliver rulings soon.

Ememobong stated: “While that is being awaited, it is needful to state that INEC monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed and was also in receipt of the notice of the convention — a fact the commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases.

“Furthermore, the primaries in Ekiti and Osun were duly monitored by INEC, with communication emanating from the Turaki-led NWC. While we appreciate the monumental pressure that INEC has come under (after all, he who pays the piper calls the tune), we remind them that their constitutional responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and in the defence and protection of democracy.

“While INEC claims to be neutral and is awaiting judgment on the matter, we hope that they are guided by the judgments of the Supreme Court, especially in the SDP case, being the latest delivered last week, barring INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.

“The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP, as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. In the past month, the Board of Trustees, Governors’ Forum, state chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives caucuses, former governors and ministers, and many other notable stakeholder groups have all met with and acknowledged the leadership of the current National Working Committee, led by Turaki, SAN.

“INEC must remember that democracy is hinged on majority rule, so the committee of friends of Wike and Anyanwu cannot be validly referred to as a faction of the PDP.

“Finally, having held a meeting with the commission last week and our correspondence thereafter further explaining relevant issues relating to the current situation, we should ordinarily not respond to this letter, except to point out the hypocrisy and consistent bias that has completely coloured the actions of the electoral umpire.

“INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in court, where it failed or refused to file documents that were in its possession and within its knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.

“If INEC, under the leadership of Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, knew the matter was in court, what was the rationale for the contrived meeting of Friday last week? Except to paint a false perception of faction to justify their actions and inactions.”

When reached for comment, Anyanwu welcomed INEC’s decision to reject the Turaki-led NWC. (The PUNCH)

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