INEC Formally Recognizes Wike-Aligned PDP Leadership as Turaki Faction Challenges Abuja Convention Legitimacy at Supreme Court

INEC affirms the new PDP leadership after the 2026 Abuja convention. The Turaki faction challenges the move at the Supreme Court, alleging contempt of court.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 4:13 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP

Institutional Validation of the Abdulrahman Mohammed Leadership

In a significant shift for Nigeria's main opposition party, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially updated its administrative portal to reflect a new leadership structure. The commission now recognizes Abdulrahman Mohammed as the National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary. This update comes less than 24 hours after the party concluded its 2026 National Convention in Abuja, where a new National Working Committee (NWC) was formed through a consensus-driven process. This affirmation by INEC provides the Wike-backed group with a critical layer of institutional legitimacy as they move to consolidate power within the party’s national hierarchy.

Allegations of Judicial Defiance and "Contempt of Court"

The rival faction, led by Tanimu Turaki, has immediately denounced the Abuja convention as a legal nullity. In a formal statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Comrade Ini Ememobong, the group alleged that the gathering was held in total defiance of the Court of Appeal. According to the Turaki faction, all involved parties had previously agreed before the appellate court on a specific process for resolving the leadership dispute, which did not include a unilateral national convention. The group argues that by proceeding with the Abuja event, the rival faction has "destroyed the res"—the legal subject matter—currently under judicial review.

A Multi-Tiered Legal Battle Reaching the Supreme Court

The internal crisis of the PDP is now stretching the limits of the Nigerian judicial system. The Turaki group confirmed that they have served the organizers of the Abuja convention with processes related to a pending appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. They maintain that because these suits challenge the very legitimacy of the convention, any leadership emerging from it remains in a state of legal limbo until the apex court delivers a final verdict. The group has expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will act swiftly to prevent what they describe as an "escalation of impunity" within the party's ranks.