Author: Gist Correspondent

The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sharply criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising a caretaker committee backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing the move as unconstitutional, provocative and capable of deepening the party’s internal crisis.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led NWC accused INEC of overstepping its role as an impartial electoral umpire and vowed to explore all available legal options to challenge the commission’s action.

The latest development follows a ruling delivered last Friday by a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, which nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court further directed Kabiru Turaki (SAN) and other officials produced by the convention to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Before the court judgment, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and members of the NWC for a four-year tenure. However, the Wike-aligned camp, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, maintained that they remained the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary of the party, respectively.

Although PDP governors facilitated a transition from former National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki ahead of the expiration of Damagum’s tenure on December 9, the Wike-backed faction, on December 8, constituted a 13-member caretaker committee with a 60-day mandate, naming Mohammed, Anyanwu and others as members.

Both the governors’ bloc and the Wike-aligned faction subsequently approached INEC for official recognition. The electoral body initially declined to recognise either group, a development that triggered multiple legal actions as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensified.

Reacting to the court ruling, the Turaki-led NWC announced that its legal team had been directed to file an immediate appeal and pursue all lawful remedies to resolve the leadership dispute.

Conversely, the Wike-backed faction welcomed the judgment restraining Turaki and others from acting as the party’s NWC and announced plans to convene a fresh national convention to elect new party leaders.

On Thursday, INEC formally recognised the Wike-backed caretaker committee, as representatives presented as Acting National Chairman, Acting National Secretary and National Organising Secretary represented the PDP at the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja.

Responding, Ememobong urged PDP members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the ongoing cases before the appellate courts.

He said the party was aware that INEC had invited individuals “purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee” to represent the PDP at its meeting, stressing that such a body has no basis in the party’s constitution.

According to him, while the action was “vexatious and capable of causing a breach of peace,” it would be addressed through appropriate legal channels. Ememobong expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would soon hear and determine all matters relating to the PDP leadership crisis.

He further assured party members that the PDP’s “rebirth movement” under the leadership of Kabiru Turaki remained firm and would ultimately overcome the current challenges to emerge as a stronger and more united opposition party.