The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising a caretaker committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing the decision as unconstitutional and provocative.
In a statement issued on Thursday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the Turaki-led faction would exhaust all legal options to challenge INEC’s action.
INEC on Thursday formally accorded recognition to the Wike-backed caretaker committee, presenting its Acting Chairman, Acting Secretary, and National Organising Secretary as the party’s representatives at the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja.
Reacting to the development, Ememobong urged party members to remain calm and law-abiding as the leadership dispute remains before the courts. He described INEC’s recognition of the caretaker committee as vexatious and unconstitutional, noting that the commission ought to have exercised restraint in light of pending appeals at the Court of Appeal.
Part of the statement read: “We are aware that INEC invited 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, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.
“This action, though capable of causing unrest, will be met with all lawful responses. INEC does not have the power to choose a leadership for our party.
“We therefore urge all our members to remain calm and confident that the Court of Appeal will soon resolve all cases relating to the leadership of our party.
“We also assure that the Rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, remains firm and resilient, and will ultimately overcome these challenges to present a stronger and more united PDP to Nigerians as a credible alternative to the ruling party.”
Prior to INEC’s decision, both the PDP governors’ bloc and the Wike-aligned faction had approached the commission seeking official recognition. INEC initially declined to recognise either side, a stance that triggered multiple court cases as the 2027 general elections approach.
The leadership crisis stems from a ruling of the Federal High Court in Ibadan last Friday, which nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, and restrained Turaki (SAN) and others from parading themselves as national officers of the party. Before the judgment, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and members of the NWC for a four-year term.
Despite the ruling, Wike and his allies, including Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have continued to lay claim to the positions of Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.
Ahead of the expiration of former Chairman Umar Damagum’s tenure on December 9, the Wike-aligned faction constituted a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, granting it a 60-day mandate.
The group has welcomed INEC’s recognition and pledged to organise a fresh national convention to elect new members of the NWC.
