The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined to recognise the new national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said to have emerged from the party’s National Convention held between November 15 and 16, 2025, citing subsisting court judgments and ongoing legal proceedings.
INEC’s position was conveyed in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and addressed to lawyers representing the PDP.
The letter was a response to repeated requests by the party, urging INEC to update its website with the names of national officers reportedly elected at the convention.
According to the Commission, the requests were carefully considered in line with relevant electoral laws, facts before it and binding judicial pronouncements relating to the disputed convention.
INEC drew attention to two judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, which it said remain valid and enforceable. The first is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Austine Nwachukwu & two others v. INEC & eight others, delivered on October 31, 2025. The second is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & four others, delivered on November 14, 2025.
The Commission said both judgments expressly restrained it from supervising, monitoring, recognising or accepting the outcome of the PDP National Convention purportedly held on November 15–16, 2025, or on any other date, pending full compliance with court orders.
While acknowledging that notices of appeal have been filed against the judgments, INEC stressed that the filing of an appeal does not automatically operate as a stay of execution.
“The Commission is constitutionally bound to comply with the judgments until they are set aside or stayed by a competent court,” INEC said.
Citing Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the electoral body noted that all authorities and persons are obligated to give effect to decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction.
INEC also addressed references by the PDP to interim orders issued by the High Court of Oyo State in Suit No. I/1336/2025, Folahan Malomo Adelabi v. PDP & others. It clarified that the Commission had been struck out of the suit for lack of jurisdiction and added that interim orders could not override subsisting final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.
The Commission further disclosed that another suit instituted by the PDP is pending at the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, in which the party is seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee members allegedly elected at the Ibadan convention.
Given the multiple pending suits and unresolved appeals, INEC said granting the PDP’s request at this stage would be legally improper and prejudicial to the rule of law.
Consequently, the Commission reaffirmed that it would not recognise or upload the list of PDP national officers said to have emerged from the November 2025 convention until all pending appeals are determined and court orders fully complied with.
INEC added that its position had earlier been communicated to the PDP leadership during a meeting held at its headquarters on December 19, 2025, and reiterated its commitment to constitutionalism, due process and respect for judicial authority.
INEC Rejects PDP’s New National Officers, Cites Subsisting Court Judgments
