The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday updated its official portal to reflect the leadership of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), formally recognising Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as the party’s National Chairman alongside other newly elected members of its National Working Committee (NWC).
The update came barely 24 hours after protests and public outcry by party supporters over the omission of the new executives from the commission’s records.
The PRP, one of Nigeria’s oldest surviving political parties, had elected Baba-Ahmed 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 a month after the exercise, INEC had yet to upload the names of the newly elected officials, triggering concern and 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.
In the statement, the party leadership assured members and the public that efforts were ongoing to ensure the update, stressing that the omission did not affect the legality of its leadership or its operations.
“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,” the statement read, adding that the party continued to attract new members nationwide.
The delay had sparked backlash from aggrieved members, many of whom took to social media to express dissatisfaction.
In a swift turnaround, however, INEC updated its portal within 24 hours, listing Baba-Ahmed and other members of the NWC.
Those recognised include National Secretary, Kanu Uchenna; National Treasurer, Bayawo Abdullahi; National Financial Secretary, Chuka Patrick; and National Legal Adviser, Vincent Okudu.
The development signals INEC’s formal recognition of the PRP’s new leadership, bringing to an end the brief uncertainty that followed the party’s national convention.