Following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) failure to acknowledge the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a factional leadership of the party has questioned the commission’s impartiality.
In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction insisted that the PDP does not have any factions.
It is argued that the PDP section that supports Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike is only a group of pals.
It further stated that they would wait for a court ruling regarding the party’s leadership because the case was still pending.
Recall that earlier on Tuesday, INEC declared it would not recognize the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing ongoing court rulings and unresolved legal issues related to the party’s leadership crisis.
INEC stated in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, its secretary, that it was unable to comply with 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 proceedings concerning the party’s internal leadership struggle served as the foundation for its judgment.
INEC emphasized that it would be inappropriate to acknowledge any opposition party factional executives while the case is still ongoing in court.
Ememobong countered that the Turaki-led group continues to be the true PDP leaders.
He argued that INEC has a constitutional obligation to uphold and defend democracy, despite pressure to deny recognition to the Turaki-led leadership.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership reaffirms that there is no group inside the party in terms of both law and reality. This reiteration is required in light of the letter from @inecnigeria clarifying that the Federal High Court’s rulings prevented them from recognizing and uploading the data of our duly chosen leadership at the convention in Ibadan.
“The aforementioned judgments have been appealed, and an application for a stay of execution has been filed against the judgements. The Court of Appeal will consider the case and render a decision shortly. While that is being awaited, it is important to note that INEC watched and took part in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention’s date and location were unanimously decided upon. 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 elections in Ekiti and Osun, and the Turaki-led NWC communicated with them. We acknowledge the tremendous pressure INEC has faced (after all, “he who pays the piper dictates the tune”), but we remind them that their first constitutional duty is to Nigerians and to defend and uphold democracy.
“We hope that INEC is mindful of the Supreme Court’s rulings, particularly in the SDP case, which was the most recent delivered last week, prohibiting INEC from interfering 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 official institutions and administrative structure, it is still true that there is no division inside the PDP. The current National Working Committee, headed 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 in the last month. The committee of Wike and Anyanwu’s pals cannot legitimately be referred to as a PDP faction, INEC must keep in mind that democracy depends on majority rule,” the statement said.
Ememobong also charged INEC with bias and hypocrisy, claiming that the election umpire is determined to destroy the PDP and end Nigerian democracy.
Lastly, 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 draw attention to the electoral umpire’s blatant bias and hypocrisy. INEC has consistently demonstrated bias in this case, even in court, by failing or refusing to submit papers that were in their possession and within their knowledge, clearly to support those determined to destroy the PDP and stifle democracy. What was the purpose of last Friday’s forced meeting if INEC, led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN was aware that the matter was in court? aside from creating a false impression of a group in order to defend their deeds and inactions.
The statement continued, “We therefore urge all Nigerians, especially our members, to remain calm, resolute, and continue to support the rebirth and renaissance moves of the party as we reposition the party for electoral success in the upcoming elections.”
