The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday summoned the two warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party to a troubleshooting meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, in a renewed effort to resolve the protracted leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.
The meeting, which was ongoing as of the time of filing this report, brought together representatives of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction and the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
It was learnt that the electoral umpire convened the meeting amid growing concerns over the PDP’s internal divisions and their implications for the party’s administrative cohesion and compliance with electoral guidelines.
Read Also:
- Senate confirms Fani-Kayode, Omokri, former INEC boss, 61 others as Nigerian ambassadors
- INEC disowns new ADC Executive in Kogi, says Abejide faction lacked due process
- INEC chairman swears in new Oyo REC, urges zero tolerance for compromise
Accirding to the report, Turaki arrived at the meeting accompanied by members of his National Working Committee, some secretariat staff of the party and a former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu.
On the other hand, Mohammed was accompanied by members of his national caretaker committee, including the committee’s secretary and former National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Although details of the closed-door meeting were not immediately made public, it was gathered that INEC is seeking clarity on the party’s leadership structure, particularly on issues bordering on recognised officials, authorised signatories and the submission of statutory documents.
The PDP has been embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis following disagreements over the position of National Secretary and the legitimacy of party organs, leading to the emergence of parallel structures laying claim to the party’s national leadership.
The crisis has also pitched key party stakeholders against one another, with the Wike-backed bloc insisting on the reinstatement and recognition of Anyanwu, while the opposing faction maintains that due process was followed in decisions taken by the party’s leadership organs.
