By Political Correspondent
In response to the ongoing turmoil plaguing the opposition party, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) divisions in Abuja met behind closed doors with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Factional chairman Tanimu Turaki, his NWC members, secretariat employees, and former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu were present at the meeting. On the other hand, members of his caretaker committee, including its secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, were present with another factional chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed.
According to the Commission, the goal of the interactive session with the party leaders was to improve adherence to the Commission’s rules, the Electoral Act, and the Constitution.
Speaking to attendees, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan stated that the engagement was required in response to “correspondences” from various party quarters asking the Commission to intervene on a number of problems.
He emphasized that all of the Commission’s actions and decisions are guided by INEC’s constitutional and statutory mandate to oversee political party activities in addition to its duty to hold elections.
He claimed that the purpose of the meeting was to offer a forum for candid and productive discussion, especially in light of the contradictory correspondence from the PDP, with the goal of creating a shared understanding and outlining a clear course of action.
Professor Amupitan told the party leaders that the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s rules and guidelines—which he referred to as the three legal frameworks supporting the Commission’s operations—would serve as the Commission’s rigorous guidelines.
“This meeting has become necessary because we have received several correspondence from various sides requesting one thing or the other.
“And we are aware that INEC is charged statutorily under the Act and under the Constitution to monitor the activities of political parties.
“We have received conflicting correspondence from the PDP, and we felt rubbing minds together would be a good opportunity for us to forge the way forward concerning the elections.
“So, we are mindful of the need for us to maintain the sanctity of the Constitution of Nigeria. Actually, INEC sits on a tripod, comprising three legal regimes: the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the regulations that have been made. So, we are determined to ensure that we follow the provisions of the various laws, the Constitution, and the regulations that we have made.”
He advised the PDP leaders to have open and fruitful dialogues, congratulated the party officials for accepting the Commission’s invitation, and reaffirmed INEC’s dedication to ongoing stakeholder engagement in the sake of transparent and credible elections.
Citing two current court rulings, INEC has stated that it is unable to recognize the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), which is led by Kabiru Turaki and was elected in November.
“Both judgments, which are final in nature and binding on all parties, expressly restrained the commission from supervising, monitoring, recognizing, or in any manner whatsoever accepting the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on 15 and 16 November 2025, or any other date, pending compliance with the orders of the court.
“While the commission is aware that notices of appeal have been filed against the said judgments, it is settled law that the mere filing of an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution. Until the said judgments are set aside or stayed by a competent court, the commission remains bound to obey and give full effects to them, in line with section 287(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
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