PDP Crisis Deepens as Turaki Faction Slams INEC Over Recognition of Wike-Backed Caretaker Committee

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Thursday as the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) strongly criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising a caretaker committee backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The faction described INEC’s action as unconstitutional, provocative, and capable of further destabilising the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led NWC warned that it would challenge the electoral commission’s decision through all available legal means. The development comes amid ongoing court battles and deepening divisions within the PDP, as rival factions continue to lay claim to the party’s national leadership.

Court Ruling and the Battle for Legitimacy

The latest dispute follows a judgment delivered last Friday by a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, which nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court ordered Turaki and several others to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party, a decision that immediately altered the balance of power within the PDP.

Before the ruling, PDP governors had openly backed the Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and members of the NWC for a four-year tenure. The governors had also facilitated a leadership transition from former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki ahead of the expiration of Damagum’s tenure on December 9, 2025.

However, the Wike-aligned camp, including Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, rejected the convention’s outcome. They insisted they remained the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively, setting the stage for parallel claims to the party’s leadership.

Emergence of a Caretaker Committee

Amid the leadership tussle, the Wike-backed faction announced the formation of a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, just one day before Damagum’s tenure expired. The committee, which included Mohammed and Anyanwu, was given a 60-day mandate to oversee party affairs and organise a fresh national convention.

Following the establishment of the caretaker committee, both the governors’ bloc and the Wike-aligned faction approached INEC seeking official recognition. Initially, the commission declined to recognise either group, citing the ongoing legal disputes, a stance that further complicated the PDP’s internal crisis as preparations for the 2027 elections intensified.

The situation changed on Thursday when INEC formally acknowledged the Wike-backed caretaker committee. Representatives of the committee attended the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja, where they were received as the party’s Acting Chairman, Acting Secretary, and National Organising Secretary.

Turaki Faction Rejects INEC’s Position

Reacting sharply to INEC’s decision, the Turaki-led NWC condemned the commission for recognising what it described as a “so-called National Caretaker Committee” that has no basis in the PDP constitution. Ememobong stated that the action was vexatious and capable of triggering a breach of peace, but assured party members that the faction would respond strictly through legal channels.

According to him, INEC ought to have exercised restraint, given that several matters relating to the party’s leadership are currently before the Court of Appeal. He maintained that any eventual judgment by the appellate court would directly affect the issues upon which INEC based its decision.

The Turaki faction announced that its legal team had been directed to file an immediate appeal against the Ibadan court judgment and to pursue all available legal remedies. Ememobong also called on PDP members nationwide to remain calm and patient while awaiting the outcome of the ongoing judicial processes.

Wike Camp Welcomes Judgment, Eyes Fresh Convention

In contrast, the Wike-backed faction welcomed the court ruling that barred Turaki and others from functioning as the PDP’s NWC. The group described the judgment as a vindication of its position and pledged to organise a fresh national convention to elect new party officers within the timeframe of the caretaker committee’s mandate.

With INEC’s recognition now tilting towards the caretaker committee, the PDP faces a critical moment as legal battles, internal divisions, and competing claims to legitimacy threaten its cohesion as Nigeria’s main opposition party.