PDP: INEC’s Actions Contradict Supreme Court Judgement on Party Internal Affairs

James Adamu in Abuja

The Turaki led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of violating a Supreme Court precedent by intervening in its internal affairs.

The allegation follows a dispute over which faction of the party’s leadership should be officially recognised.

INEC had earlier on Tuesday stated that it will not recognise Kabiru Turaki as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The commission’s position was communicated in a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony. INEC cited existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes related to the party’s internal crisis as the reason for its decision.

This development followed the PDP’s National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, where a faction elected Kabiru Turaki to lead the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

In the letter, the electoral body explained that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter of the PDP’s leadership remains subject to pending litigation and subsisting court decisions.

Reacting to INEC’s position, the Turaki-led faction of the party, in a detailed press statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the INEC had written to explain it could not upload the details of the party’s leadership elected at its convention in Ibadan, citing restraining orders from the Federal High Court.

The party, however, contends that INEC’s stance disregards a recent Supreme Court judgement barring the commission from interfering in the internal leadership matters of political parties. It described INEC’s position as “hypocrisy and consistent bias.”

The PDP stated that INEC had actively monitored and participated in meetings where the convention was planned and had later supervised primaries conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN. It accused INEC of suppressing these facts in court.

“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,” the statement read, listing endorsements from the party’s Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, and legislative caucuses.

The party alleged that INEC, under “monumental pressure,” had refused to file relevant documents in court to aid those “bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.”

It therefore questioned the purpose of a meeting held with INEC last week, calling it “contrived” to create a false perception of a faction.

While acknowledging that appeals have been lodged against the lower court judgements, the PDP urged its members and the public to remain calm and support its “rebirth and renaissance” ahead of forthcoming elections.

INEC has not yet issued a public response to these allegations.