The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has pushed back against claims of a leadership crisis, asserting firm control of its structures while accusing the electoral umpire of undermining internal party processes amid ongoing legal battles.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PDP National Working Committee,NWC, led by Kabiru Turaki (SAN), maintained that the party remains united and that all legitimate organs operate under its authority.
The clarification followed a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which said it could not recognise or upload details of the leadership elected at the party’s Ibadan national convention, citing subsisting Federal High Court judgments.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the court decisions referenced by INEC have been appealed and that applications for stay of execution are already before the courts. He added that the Court of Appeal is expected to determine the matter, stressing that the judgments cited are not final.
Ememobong accused INEC of acting in bad faith, noting that the commission monitored and participated in the PDP’s National Executive Committee meetings where the date and venue of the Ibadan convention were unanimously agreed.
He added that INEC was duly notified of the convention but has failed to disclose this fact in ongoing court proceedings.
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The PDP spokesman further recalled that INEC monitored the party’s governorship primaries in Ekiti and Osun states, exercises conducted under the supervision of the Turaki-led NWC. He said this oversight affirms the legitimacy of the current leadership structure.
While acknowledging INEC’s claim of neutrality, Ememobong urged the commission to be guided by recent Supreme Court pronouncements, particularly in the Social Democratic Party case, which he said restricts INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.
He also cited the recognition of the Turaki-led NWC by major stakeholder groups — including the Board of Trustees, PDP Governors’ Forum, state chairmen, National Assembly caucuses, former governors and ministers — as evidence that the party is not factionalised.
Describing INEC’s conduct as biased, Ememobong alleged that the commission deliberately withheld relevant documents during court proceedings to support interests intent on destabilising the PDP.
“INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in court, where they failed or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy,” he said.
He called on party members and Nigerians to remain calm and resolute, urging continued support for what he described as the PDP’s ongoing rebirth and repositioning ahead of future elections.
The Conclave
