INEC summons rival PDP camps over deepening party crisis

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday stepped into the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), summoning rival factions of the party to its headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting brought together the faction led by Tanimu Turaki and the group headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which is backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Turaki attended the meeting alongside members of his National Working Committee, secretariat staff and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu. Mohammed, on the other hand, was accompanied by members of his national caretaker committee, including its secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission’s intervention became necessary following a series of conflicting correspondences received from the party.

“This meeting has become necessary because we have received several correspondences from different sides requesting one thing or the other. We are also aware that INEC is statutorily charged, under the Constitution and the Electoral Act, with monitoring the activities of political parties,” he said.

Amupitan explained that the intervention was further informed by preparations for the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, as well as the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states slated for June and July 2026.

“As part of preparations for these elections, INEC has issued a schedule of activities to all political parties. However, we have received conflicting correspondences from the PDP. We felt that bringing the parties together would provide an opportunity to chart a way forward concerning the elections,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the presence of top officials from the rival factions would facilitate constructive dialogue and resolution of the issues, stressing the need for unity ahead of the forthcoming polls.

The INEC chairman assured the factions of the commission’s neutrality, noting that its actions are guided strictly by the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and its internal regulations.

“INEC operates within three legal regimes: the Constitution, the Electoral Act and our regulations. We are determined to adhere strictly to these laws. I therefore urge all parties to engage in frank discussions so that we can achieve the objective of this meeting and move forward,” he said.

Following the opening remarks, the meeting proceeded into a closed-door session.