The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the Makinde-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes surrounding the party’s leadership crisis.
INEC made this known in a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony. The letter followed demands by lawyers representing the faction for the commission to acknowledge and upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the commission, the requests were reviewed in the light of relevant laws, material facts, and subsisting court judgments directly affecting the matter. INEC said it was expressly restrained by two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja from supervising, recognising, or giving effect to the outcome of the Ibadan convention or any similar exercise pending full compliance with court orders.
The commission referenced Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, delivered on November 14, 2025, both of which it said are final in nature and binding on all parties. INEC stressed that although notices of appeal have been filed against the judgments, the law is settled that an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution.
INEC also addressed claims that interim orders issued by the Oyo State High Court empowered it to recognise the Turaki-led faction, clarifying that the commission had been struck out of the suit for lack of jurisdiction. It added that interim orders cannot override or nullify subsisting final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.
The commission further disclosed that another suit filed by the PDP is currently pending before the Federal High Court in Ibadan, where the party is seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the National Working Committee and members of the National Executive Committee allegedly elected at the Ibadan convention. INEC said acting on the request at this stage would be prejudicial while the
