A factional leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has questioned the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the electoral umpire failed to recognize the Kabiru Turaki‑led National Working Committee of the party.
The faction, in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, maintained that there is no faction in the PDP.
It is submitted that the PDP faction loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, is simply a committee of friends.
It added that since the matter was pending in court, they would wait for a court declaration on the party’s leadership.
Naijaonpoint recalls INEC had earlier on Tuesday, said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki‑led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing subsisting court judgments and unresolved legal processes surrounding the party’s leadership crisis.
In a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran‑Anthony, INEC said it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers purportedly elected at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The commission explained that its decision was guided by existing court rulings and ongoing litigation relating to the party’s internal leadership dispute.
INEC stressed that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers of the opposition party while the matter remains pending in court.
However, Ememobong argued that the Turaki-led faction remains the authentic PDP leaders.
He claimed that INEC is under pressure not to recognise the Turaki-led leadership but submitted that the commission has a constitutional responsibility to defend and protect democracy.
“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party reiterates that in law and fact, there is no faction in the Peoples Democratic Party. This reiteration is necessary in the light of the @inecnigeria letter explaining their inability to recognise and upload the data of our legitimately elected leadership at the convention in Ibadan due to judgements of the Federal High Court.
“The said judgements have been appealed and an application for the stay of execution filed against the judgements, and very soon the Court of Appeal will hear and give judgement in the matters. 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 dictates 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 the Judgement of the court on the matter, we hope that they are minded by the judgements 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 one 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,” the statement read.
Furthermore, Ememobong accused INEC of hypocrisy and bias, adding that the electoral umpire is bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy in Nigeria.
“Finally, having a 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 action of the electoral umpire. INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in the court, where they failed or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their 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.
“We therefore urge all Nigerians, particularly, 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 coming elections,” the statement added.