The title compound, C15H12N4O2, contains two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. These differ in terms of dihedral angles that the phenyl and 2-pyridyl rings subtend with the central five-membered ring; 15.2 (2) and 2.9 (2)°, respectively, in one molecule, 8.9 (2) and 5.1 (2)°for the second. In the crystal, the independent molecules each self-associate to form layers through N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonding. The layers associate through π–π interactions between the phenyl rings and isolated carbon–carbon double bonds [shortest midpoint–centroid distance = 3.347 (4) Å]. The crystal studied was refined as a two-component twin.