PDP Factions Meet INEC Amid Party Crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factions met with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday to discuss the party’s ongoing crisis. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the meeting was intended to address the internal dispute that has divided the PDP into two camps. One faction is led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who claims the national secretary position and is backed by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. The other is headed by Kabiru Turaki, with support from Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

After the meeting at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja, both factions spoke to the media. Senator Anyanwu praised the INEC chairman for initiating the dialogue, noting that it showed the commission’s desire for the PDP to thrive as Nigeria’s main opposition party. He said INEC is exploring options to resolve the crisis, adding that both sides presented their perspectives and identified the sources of conflict as personal grievances, aggression and ego. Anyanwu expressed confidence that the party would emerge stronger, citing the PDP’s established mechanisms for managing internal disputes.

Kabiru Turaki, the PDP national chairman from the Oyo convention, explained that his faction, along with expelled former party members, was invited to the meeting. He said INEC is seeking solutions to the party’s lingering problems and has pledged to consider their presentation carefully. Turaki acknowledged that some matters are currently before the Court of Appeal, and that INEC cannot intervene in judicial proceedings, but the commission has committed to examining the issues raised by both factions. He likened the process to traditional dispute resolution, where elders listen to all parties in a land dispute, emphasizing that INEC’s approach aims at reconciliation and ensuring every voice is heard.

The meeting marks a significant step toward resolving the PDP’s internal crisis, which has persisted for some time. The outcome of INEC’s deliberations and the subsequent actions of the party’s factions will be closely watched as the situation continues to unfold.