INEC Urges Feuding PDP Factions to Resolve Differences Ahead of Key Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday cautioned the two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to urgently “put their house in order” as the country approaches important off-season elections.

The warning was delivered during a meeting convened by INEC, which brought together leaders of the two opposing PDP blocs.

Present at the meeting were the faction led by Tanimu Turaki and the group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

Turaki attended alongside members of his National Working Committee, secretariat staff and former Niger State Governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu. Mohammed was accompanied by members of his caretaker committee, including its Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, explained that the Commission had received “various conflicting correspondences” from different actors within the PDP, making it necessary to bring both sides together for dialogue.

With the FCT Area Council elections and two governorship polls fast approaching, INEC stressed the need to avoid conducting elections while the main opposition party remains divided.

“We are determined to ensure that we follow the provisions of the law. We want to move forward as a family,” Amupitan told the factions.

“The FCT election is coming up on the 1st of February 2026, while the Ekiti election will be coming up in June 2026, and Osun in July 2026.

“We are on course to ensure that we have a very smooth election, but having received conflicting correspondences from the PDP, we felt that rubbing minds together would help forge the way forward concerning these elections,” he said.

The INEC chairman further emphasized that the Commission would continue to act strictly within the law. “INEC sits on the tripod of three legal regimes—the Constitution, the Electoral Act and our Regulations. We are mindful of the need to maintain the sanctity of the Constitution, which is the grund norm,” he added.

Speaking after the meeting, Turaki said his faction was invited late Thursday night and initially believed the discussion would focus on “housekeeping issues” previously raised with INEC.

He noted their surprise that “some former members of our party who had earlier been expelled were also invited.”

According to him, INEC explained that all parties needed to be present “with a view to looking for possible solutions that will resolve what the chairman described as lingering problems within the PDP.”

Turaki said his group clearly presented its position. “We made presentations of what we think the issues are, and INEC has listened to us. Even though these matters are before the Court of Appeal and have not been heard, INEC said they will look into what we submitted very seriously.”

He added that INEC had worked late into Thursday night reviewing the situation across parties.

“INEC is an umpire and will always want to conduct an election that is transparent and acceptable. Where major participants are unable to participate, it casts a dark shadow on the outcome,” he said.

On whether the meeting affirmed the legitimacy of his faction, Turaki remarked: “When elders sit to settle a land dispute, they know who the legitimate owner is, but both sides must be heard so that no one claims they were denied fair hearing.”

He also called on INEC to investigate the roots of crises in opposition parties, saying his faction remained committed to holding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable on issues of governance, rule of law, security, infrastructure and justice.

Representing the Wike-backed faction, Senator Sam Anyanwu maintained that the PDP leadership’s tenure ended on December 9, 2025, creating a vacuum that necessitated the appointment of a caretaker committee by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT).

“The life span of the leadership expired on December 9. A caretaker committee was appointed with Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as Chairman and I as Secretary.

“The court nullified the convention in Oyo State, so there was no valid convention. Nature abhors vacuum,” he said.

Anyanwu commended INEC’s handling of the matter, stating: “The INEC chairman is a man blessed with wisdom. The way they spoke to us showed that they really wanted us to continue to exist as the major opposition party.”

He attributed the PDP crisis to “greed, ambition and ego of some people,” but assured supporters that “PDP is still PDP,” adding that the party has internal mechanisms to manage crises and would emerge stronger.

Calling for reconciliation, Anyanwu urged aggrieved members to return to the fold. “We are going to tell our brothers to come back home. Reconciliation means coming back and then we do a convention. Some of them might be lucky to emerge as leaders from their states, but for now, the only recognized body is the caretaker committee of the party.”

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