The Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday updated its portal to reflect the leadership of the Peoples Redemption Party, formally recognising Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as the party’s National Chairman, alongside other newly elected members of its National Working Committee.
- +INEC updates portal, recognises Baba-Ahmed as PRP chairman
The development followed a wave of protests and public outcry by party supporters over the omission of the new executives from the commission’s records, barely 24 hours after concerns were raised.
The development followed a wave of protests and public outcry by party supporters over the omission of the new executives from the commission’s records, barely 24 hours after concerns were raised.
The PRP, one of Nigeria’s oldest surviving political parties, had elected the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima as its national chairman during a convention held in Abuja on March 28, 2026.
However, nearly one month after the exercise, the electoral umpire had yet to upload the names of the newly elected officials on its portal, triggering anxiety within the party.
The alarm was first raised on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, with Baba-Ahmed subsequently issuing a statement questioning the delay despite INEC’s presence at the convention.
The statement read, “The national leadership of the Peoples Redemption Party has been inundated with enquiries over the absence of the names of key Officers of the Party on the INEC portal, following our successful convention on 28th March, 2026, which was observed by INEC.
“The Party wishes to assure its members, the Public, and those expressing interest in joining the Party that efforts are being made to get INEC to upload these details.
“It is important to state that the absence of the names of the current leadership of the Party on the INEC portal does not represent any legal hindrance for it to operate or a threat to the legality of the leadership of the Party. The Party wishes to state that it is actively engaging members of the Public who are registering in huge numbers.”
The omission sparked backlash from aggrieved members, many of whom took to social media to express dissatisfaction over the delay.
But in a swift turnaround, the commission updated its portal within 24 hours, listing Baba-Ahmed and other members of the party’s National Working Committee.
Other NWC members listed on the INEC portal are National Secretary, Kanu Uchenna; National Treasurer, Bayawo Abdullahi; National Financial Secretary, Chuka Patrick, and National Legal Adviser, Vincent Okudu.
The update effectively signals INEC’s formal recognition of the PRP’s new leadership, bringing an end to the brief uncertainty that followed the party’s convention.
