- Both factions subsequently sought recognition from INEC, but the electoral body initially declined to acknowledge either group
- The reaction followed last Friday’s ruling by a Federal High Court in Ibadan, which voided the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025
- the Turaki-led NWC announced that it had instructed its lawyers to file an appeal and pursue all lawful remedies to protect its position
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Thursday as the Turaki-led National Working Committee faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission for recognising a caretaker committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction described INEC’s action as unconstitutional, inflammatory and capable of worsening tensions within the party, warning that it would explore every legal avenue to challenge the decision.
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The reaction followed last Friday’s ruling by a Federal High Court in Ibadan, which voided the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, and ordered Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other officials to stop presenting themselves as members of the party’s national leadership.
Before the judgment, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention that produced Turaki and members of the National Working Committee for a four-year term.
However, Wike and his allies, Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, maintained that they remained the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary of the party.
Despite a transition facilitated by the governors from former chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki ahead of the expiration of Damagum’s tenure on December 9, the Wike-backed bloc set up a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, assigning it a 60-day mandate with Mohammed and Anyanwu among its key officers.
Both factions subsequently sought recognition from INEC, but the electoral body initially declined to acknowledge either group, a stance that triggered multiple lawsuits as preparations for the 2027 general elections gathered pace.
Following the court ruling, the Turaki-led NWC announced that it had instructed its lawyers to file an appeal and pursue all lawful remedies to protect its position.
Meanwhile, the Wike-aligned faction welcomed the judgment restraining Turaki and his team from acting as the party’s NWC and vowed to organise a new national convention to elect fresh officers.
INEC later moved to formally recognise the Wike-backed caretaker committee, allowing its representatives to attend the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja as the PDP’s acting leadership.
Responding, Ememobong appealed to party members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while the legal battles over the party’s leadership continue.
He said INEC’s decision to invite what he described as “former members parading a so-called caretaker committee” was provocative and lacked constitutional backing, adding that the commission ought to have exercised restraint given that key issues were already before the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the party was confident that the appellate court would soon resolve all pending cases and reaffirm lawful leadership.
Ememobong also assured members that the PDP’s internal reform movement under Turaki’s leadership remained intact, expressing optimism that the party would emerge stronger, more united, and better positioned as an alternative to the ruling party.
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