The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned the warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a joint meeting, warning that it would strictly adhere to the law as preparations begin for major elections scheduled for 2026.
The meeting, which began mid-day on Thursday, brought face-to-face the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, and the rival bloc backed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Turaki arrived with members of his National Working Committee, party secretariat officials, and former Niger State Governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu. On his part, Mohammed was accompanied by members of his caretaker committee, including its secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.
Addressing both sides, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission had been inundated with “various conflicting correspondences” from different actors within the PDP, prompting the need for a joint dialogue.
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With the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for February 1, 2026, and governorship elections in Ekiti (June 2026) and Osun (July 2026), Amupitan said INEC was keen to avoid conducting elections while the main opposition party remained divided.
“We are determined to ensure that we follow the provisions of the law. We want to move forward as a family,” the INEC chairman said.
“We are on course to ensure that we have very smooth elections, but having received conflicting correspondences from the PDP, we felt that bringing all parties together would help forge a way forward,” he added.
Amupitan stressed that the commission would remain strictly guided by 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 grundnorm,” he said.
Turaki faction speaks
Speaking after the meeting, Turaki said his faction was invited only the previous night and initially believed the discussions would focus on “housekeeping issues” earlier raised with INEC.
He expressed surprise that individuals he described as “former members who had earlier been expelled from the party” were also invited.
According to him, INEC explained that all parties needed to be present in order to seek solutions to what it described as lingering problems within the PDP.
“We made presentations of what we think the issues are, and INEC listened to us. Even though these matters are before the Court of Appeal and have not yet been heard, INEC said it would look very seriously at what we submitted,” Turaki said.
He added that INEC worked late into Thursday night reviewing the situation.
“INEC is an umpire and always wants to conduct elections that are transparent and acceptable. Where major participants are unable to participate, it casts a dark shadow on the outcome,” he noted.
On whether the meeting validated his faction, Turaki said: “When elders sit to settle a land dispute, they already know the legitimate owner, but both sides must be heard so that no one can claim they were denied fair hearing.”
He also urged INEC to investigate the root causes of crises in opposition parties, insisting that his faction remained committed to holding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable on governance, security, infrastructure decay, and justice.
Wike-backed faction insists leadership expired
Speaking for the Wike-backed group, Senator Sam Anyanwu maintained that the PDP’s elected leadership expired on December 9, 2025, thereby creating a vacuum that necessitated the appointment of a caretaker committee. “The lifespan of the leadership expired on December 9. A caretaker committee was appointed with Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as chairman and myself as secretary,” Anyanwu said.
He added that the party’s national convention in Oyo State had been nullified by the court, leaving the party without a valid leadership structure.
“Nature abhors vacuum,” he said.
Anyanwu praised INEC’s handling of the meeting, describing the chairman as “a man blessed with wisdom,” and said the commission demonstrated a genuine desire to preserve the PDP as Nigeria’s major opposition party.
He attributed the party’s crisis to “greed, ambition and ego,” but assured supporters that the PDP would emerge stronger.
“PDP is still PDP. Nigerians know that the party has mechanisms for managing internal crises,” he said.
Calling for reconciliation, Anyanwu urged aggrieved members to return to the party, insisting that for now, the caretaker committee remains the only recognised leadership structure pending a fresh convention.
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