The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday stepped into the leadership crisis facing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), inviting the party’s opposing factions to a meeting at its Abuja headquarters.
In attendance were representatives of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction and the group headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which is reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Turaki arrived with members of his National Working Committee, party secretariat officials, and former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu. Mohammed was joined by members of his national caretaker committee, including its secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.
Opening the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, explained that the commission’s intervention followed a series of conflicting letters received from different sides of the party.
According to him, INEC is constitutionally empowered to oversee political parties and found it necessary to convene the meeting in light of preparations for upcoming elections. These include the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, as well as the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls slated for June and July 2026.
Amupitan noted that the commission had already released its timetable of activities and was determined to ensure smooth electoral processes in the affected states and the FCT. He added that bringing both factions together would help clarify issues arising from the contradictory communications and chart a clear path forward.
The INEC chairman assured both sides of the commission’s neutrality, stressing that all actions would strictly adhere to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s regulations. He urged participants to engage in open and honest discussions to resolve the party’s internal challenges.
After the opening remarks, the meeting moved into a closed-door session, with expectations that concrete recommendations would emerge to address the PDP’s leadership crisis ahead of the forthcoming elections.
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