…Commission summons rival camps over conflicting letters
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved to douse the protracted leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), convening a high-level meeting of rival factions at its Abuja headquarters as preparations intensify for the 2026 elections.
The meeting brought together two opposing camps led by Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed, the latter reportedly enjoying the backing of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Turaki attended the parley with members of his National Working Committee, officials of the party secretariat and former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu. Mohammed, on his part, was accompanied by members of his national caretaker committee, including its secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.
Opening the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the Commission was compelled to intervene following a surge of contradictory letters and requests from the PDP’s rival leadership groups.
He explained that INEC had been receiving multiple communications from different factions claiming authority to speak for the party, stressing that the Commission was constitutionally mandated to monitor and supervise the activities of political parties.
According to Amupitan, the engagement became even more urgent in view of forthcoming elections, including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls scheduled for February 21, 2026, as well as the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections fixed for June and July 2026.
He noted that INEC had already issued election timetables and guidelines to all political parties and was determined to ensure seamless and credible polls. However, he said the conflicting positions emanating from the PDP made it necessary for the Commission to seek clarity by bringing all sides together.
The INEC chairman expressed satisfaction with the presence of key officials from the contending factions, describing the meeting as an opportunity for open engagement aimed at resolving the crisis in the overall interest of the party and the electoral process.
Amupitan assured the PDP leaders of the Commission’s neutrality, emphasizing that INEC’s actions were guided strictly by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Commission’s regulations.
He reiterated that INEC operates within a three-tier legal framework comprising the Constitution, the Electoral Act and its internal guidelines, pledging strict adherence to the rule of law in handling the matter.
He urged the factions to engage in frank and constructive dialogue to achieve a workable resolution, after which deliberations continued behind closed doors.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to yield recommendations on resolving the PDP’s leadership crisis ahead of the 2026 electoral calendar.
