The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a critical turn on Friday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) convened a high-level meeting with representatives of the rival factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed.
The closed-door meeting, held at INEC headquarters in Abuja, was aimed at addressing the growing confusion over the party’s authentic leadership structure and restoring administrative clarity ahead of forthcoming electoral activities.
Why INEC Stepped In
INEC’s intervention followed the receipt of multiple and conflicting correspondences from different PDP factions, each claiming to be the legitimate national leadership of the party. The situation has complicated the commission’s ability to determine which group is authorised to submit candidates, issue official notices, and represent the party in electoral matters.
INEC officials made it clear that the commission was not taking sides but was compelled to engage all parties to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC regulations.
Factions Represented at the Meeting
Two major blocs attended the meeting:
- The Wike-backed faction, which is operating under a national caretaker committee following the expiration of the former National Working Committee’s tenure. The group insists that its caretaker arrangement is lawful and necessary to stabilise the party.
- The governors’ and Bala Mohammed-aligned faction, which recognises a newly elected national leadership emerging from a recent party convention. This faction maintains that the convention was valid and produced a legitimate National Working Committee.
Both sides presented documents and legal arguments to support their claims of legitimacy.
Key Issues Discussed
Discussions at the meeting focused on:
- The legality of the caretaker committee versus the convention-elected leadership
- Compliance with PDP’s constitution and internal rules
- The expiration of the former National Working Committee’s tenure
- INEC’s need for a single, recognised channel of communication from the party
INEC reportedly emphasised that until clarity is achieved, the commission would rely strictly on legal provisions and court pronouncements where applicable.
Roots of the Crisis
The PDP crisis escalated after deep divisions emerged between party governors and key stakeholders aligned with Wike. The disagreement later produced parallel leadership structures, expulsions, counter-expulsions, and the dissolution of party organs in several states.
While one faction argues that the convention restored internal democracy, the other insists that the process violated party guidelines and ignored subsisting court matters.
INEC’s Position
INEC reiterated that it would not recognise any leadership arrangement that falls outside the law. Officials stressed that the commission’s primary responsibility is to ensure order, transparency, and legal certainty in party administration as elections approach.
No final decision was announced at the meeting, as INEC is expected to study all submissions before determining its next line of action.
What Lies Ahead
Political observers expect further legal battles and internal negotiations as both factions continue to push for control of the party’s structure. The outcome of INEC’s engagement is expected to significantly shape the PDP’s preparedness for upcoming elections and its ability to function as a united opposition.
For now, the crisis remains unresolved, with the party’s future direction hanging in the balance.
