The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Kabiru Turaki has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for engaging with a rival faction of the party allegedly backed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

INEC on Thursday convened a meeting with chairpersons of political parties, during which Abdulrahman Mohammed, head of a caretaker committee established by the Wike-aligned faction of the PDP, was present.

Reacting to the development, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson of the Turaki-led NWC, described Mohammed’s participation as “vexatious,” insisting that INEC is expected to maintain neutrality in internal party disputes.

Ememobong noted that several cases are currently before the Court of Appeal seeking legal recognition of Turaki as the party’s authentic national chairman. He argued that INEC ought to have exercised caution until the courts resolve the matter.

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

He further stressed that the electoral body lacks the constitutional authority to impose leadership on a political party, urging PDP members nationwide to remain calm while the legal process runs its course.

The PDP has remained deeply divided following its controversial national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, 2025, which has since become the subject of multiple court battles.

Last month, a Federal High Court in Ibadan, presided over by Justice Uche Agomoh, nullified the convention and declined a request by the Turaki-led NWC to compel INEC to recognise it. The court barred the group from presenting itself as the party’s national leadership, ruling that the convention was conducted in violation of subsisting court orders.

Justice Agomoh held that the PDP could not flout judicial directives and subsequently seek court endorsement for actions taken in defiance of those orders. He further ruled that the party should operate through a caretaker committee until a lawful and properly conducted national convention is held.

Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), strongly faulted the judgement, arguing that the court granted reliefs that were neither sought nor canvassed by any party to the suit. He disclosed that the PDP had filed a notice of appeal along with an application for stay of execution, maintaining that the convention remains “legally intact” and central to the party’s rebuilding efforts.

The disputed convention was supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and followed a series of conflicting court rulings. While some Federal High Courts in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged violations of party and electoral laws, a State High Court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the convention.

At the convention, Wike and his allies were expelled, prompting the group to later establish a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC).

In December, INEC declined to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing the multiplicity of court judgements surrounding the party’s leadership crisis.