INEC Rejection: PDP Insists There Is No Faction, Says Turaki-Led NWC Remains Legitimate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly dismissed claims of internal division, insisting that the opposition party remains united despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to recognise its newly elected national leadership.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, spoke after INEC declined to acknowledge the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), which emerged from the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
PulseNets learnt that INEC, in a letter dated December 22, 2025, informed the party of its decision not to upload the names of the convention-elected national officers on its official portal. The letter, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, cited existing court judgements as the basis for its action.
According to details obtained by PulseNets, INEC explained that its position was guided by subsisting judicial pronouncements and ongoing litigation surrounding the PDP leadership dispute. The electoral body noted that recognising any group as national officers while the matter remains before the courts would be inappropriate.
Reacting to the development, Ememobong told PulseNets that the PDP has already taken legal steps to challenge the judgement relied upon by INEC in rejecting the Turaki-led NWC.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists, Ememobong stressed that the party’s position remains unchanged.
“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party reiterates clearly that both in law and in fact, there is no faction within the PDP,” the statement read.
He added that the clarification became necessary following INEC’s explanation for its refusal to recognise and upload the details of the party’s leadership elected at the Ibadan convention.
“This clarification is important given the INEC letter citing Federal High Court judgements as the reason for its inability to recognise our legitimately elected leadership,” Ememobong stated.
Providing further context, the PDP spokesman disclosed that the party has formally appealed the judgements in question and has also filed applications seeking a stay of execution.
“Those judgements have been appealed, and applications for stay of execution are already before the court. The Court of Appeal will, in due course, hear and determine these matters,” he said.
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Ememobong maintained that the party’s internal structures remain intact and fully functional.
“The reality remains that there is no faction in the PDP. All legitimate organs and the entire administrative structure of the party are firmly under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN,” he declared.
