By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) has insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot choose the party’s leadership.
The party’s faction criticised INEC for recognising the PDP caretaker committee backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 5, by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led NWC described the move as unconstitutional and provocative.
The NWC warned that it would pursue all available legal options to challenge INEC’s action and urged its members to remain calm and peaceful.
INEC, on Thursday, formally acknowledged the Wike-backed caretaker committee following a ruling on Friday, January 30, by a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, nullifying the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and directed Turaki and several others to cease parading themselves as national officers of the party.
During INEC’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties for 2026, held in Abuja on Thursday, February 5, the PDP was represented by individuals presented as Acting Chairman, Acting Secretary, and National Organising Secretary.
In the statement, the Turaki-led faction noted that INEC invited former members “purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee” to represent the party, a leadership it said is not provided for in the party’s constitution.
The statement read, “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 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.”
