INEC Recognizes Turaki-Led PDP Faction, Rejects Request to Postpone Ekiti Primaries

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially affirmed Kabiru Turaki's National Working Committee (NWC) as the legitimate leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This decision led the commission to reject a request to postpone the party's gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti State, which was submitted by a rival faction.

INEC confirmed that the request, which cited logistical issues as the reason for needing a delay, was signed by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu. The commission stated that it does not recognize these individuals as authorized party officials and, therefore, could not act on their communication. INEC maintains that only correspondence from the Turaki-led NWC is considered valid for official electoral matters.

This development is the latest in an ongoing internal party dispute. The PDP, under Turaki's leadership, had previously suspended and later expelled Abdulrahman, Anyanwu, and several other prominent members for alleged anti-party activities. These actions were reportedly ratified during the party's National Convention.

By dismissing the postponement request, INEC has upheld the original schedule for the PDP's Ekiti State gubernatorial primaries, allowing the party's electoral process to proceed as planned.