The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will not accept or recognise the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Turaki because of existing court judgments and unresolved legal matters.
The position of the commission was made known in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony. The letter was issued after INEC received several requests from lawyers representing the PDP, asking the commission to recognise and update on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
INEC explained that it reviewed the requests based on relevant laws, facts, and court decisions directly connected to the matter. The commission referred to two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on October 31 and November 14, 2025. According to INEC, both judgments stopped it from supervising, recognising, or acting on the outcome of the PDP convention until all court orders were fully obeyed.
The commission stated that although appeals had been filed against the judgments, the law makes it clear that filing an appeal does not stop the enforcement of a court decision. INEC added that it remains legally bound to obey the judgments until they are set aside or suspended by a competent court, in line with the Constitution.
INEC also addressed claims linked to interim orders from the Oyo State High Court, explaining that it had already been removed from that case due to lack of jurisdiction. The commission noted that interim orders cannot override final judgments issued by courts of equal or higher authority.
In addition, INEC disclosed that another case filed by the PDP is still pending before the Federal High Court in Ibadan, where the party is seeking an order to compel the commission to recognise the leaders said to have emerged from the Ibadan convention. INEC said granting the request at this time would affect the ongoing cases.
The commission added that its position was clearly communicated to PDP leaders during a meeting at its headquarters on December 19, 2025. INEC assured the public and political stakeholders that it would continue to act strictly according to the Constitution, the law, and valid court orders.