Turaki-Led PDP Vows Legal Action Against INEC Over Recognition of Wike Faction

The Turaki–led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising the Nyesom Wike–backed caretaker committee, describing the move as unconstitutional and provocative.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led NWC warned that it would explore all available legal options to challenge INEC’s action.

Last Friday, a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and ordered Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and others to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Before the judgment, PDP governors had thrown their weight behind the Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure.

However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside his allies Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, insisted they remained the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary of the party, respectively.

Although the governors had facilitated a transition from former National Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki ahead of the expiration of Damagum’s tenure on December 9, the Wike-aligned camp went on to set up a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed, Anyanwu and others to serve a 60-day mandate.

Following this development, both the governors’ bloc and the Wike-aligned faction approached INEC seeking official recognition. However, the electoral body initially declined to recognise either side, a move that triggered multiple legal battles as the 2027 general elections draw nearer.

Reacting to the court ruling, the Turaki-led PDP NWC announced that its legal team had been directed to immediately file an appeal and pursue all legal remedies available to the party.

Meanwhile, the Wike-backed faction welcomed the court judgment barring Turaki and others from operating as the party’s National Working Committee and promised to organise a fresh national convention to elect new NWC members.

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

Responding, Ememobong urged party members to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the ongoing court cases over the party’s leadership crisis.

The statement read in part, “We are aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission invited the leaders of political parties to a meeting today and extended the invitation to some former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.

“This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing a widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal responses.

“Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal (including the judgment which they are relying upon), which, when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration, and exercised restraint therefrom. We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party.

“Consequently, we urge all our members to remain calm and hopeful that, soonest, the Court of Appeal will hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of our party.

“We assure that the Rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, is steady and secure, and will ultimately surmount all these challenges to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians as a credible alternative to the ruling party that has brought untold sorrows, tears, and blood to Nigerians.”