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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, hosted the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at an interactive meeting to intervene in the feud rocking the party.
INEC, during the meeting insisted on strengthening compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the commission’s regulations ahead of forthcoming elections.
While addressing party leaders at the meeting, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, SAN, said that the engagement was necessitated by a number of correspondences received from different quarters within the party, requesting the commission’s intervention on various issues.
The electoral umpire boss noted that the commission is constitutionally and statutorily mandated to monitor the activities of political parties, in addition to its responsibility of conducting elections.
He stressed that these obligations guide all the commission’s actions and decisions, informing the participants that the commission has already issued its timetable and schedule of activities to political parties as part of preparations for the forthcoming elections.
“We have decided to invite all the parties, especially the fact that we have received conflicting correspondences from the People’s Democratic Party and we felt that by rubbing minds together, we it be a good opportunity for us to forge the way forward concerning the elections.
“And I’m happy that this morning, very top officials are present here so that we can discuss as a family and see how the issues can be resolved and we move forward. We are guided by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Acts, and the regulations that have been made by INEC.
“We are mindful of the need for us to maintain the sanctity of the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the ground norm, as well as the Electoral Acts and the guidelines.
Actually, INEC sits on the tripod of three legal regimes, the Constitution, the Electoral Acts, 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 said
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Assuring that the commission remains on course to deliver smooth and credible polls, he drew the attention to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February 2026, as well as other elections lined up for later in the year.
He emphasised the importance of early engagement with stakeholders to ensure orderly participation and compliance with established procedures.
“The FCT election is coming up on the 1st of February 2026, while the Ekiti election will be coming up in June 2026, and Osun in July 2026. And as a build-up to these elections, we have issued our own schedule of activities to all the political parties, and we are on course to ensure that we have a very smooth election at the area council of FCT and at the offshore states,” he said.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines after the meeting, factional National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu said: “The takeaway from the meeting, I must say, we have met a man blessed by God with wisdom. The way the commission spoke to us shows that they really want this party to continue to strive as the major opposition party in Nigeria.
“We, as members of the party, are ready and prepared. They are looking at the issues and options of how to bring peace for us. We are yet to get a decision of INEC on the matter, but both sides spoke.
“We are all able to punch up the dipoles where the problem is coming from. It has to do with grief, aggression and ego of some people. As a matter of fact, as a responsible party, we believe in the rule of law, the electoral guidelines and the INEC guidelines.
“Yes, we all Nigerians know that PDP has a mechanism of managing internal crisis. And that is what we are doing now. I can tell you, we will come out strong and stronger.
“Nigerians are actually looking up to PDP. Nigerians want PDP. If you go to every nook and cranny of Nigeria, everybody runs PDP. We are not going to disappoint them. This must become right. Your presence here symbolises your open for the new constitution,” he said.
In his reaction, factional party’s national chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said:
“When we received the invite, we thought that it was in respect of an earlier request made to meet with INEC leadership and discuss and resolve some housekeeping issues. When we arrived this morning, however, we discovered that some former members of our party, who had earlier been expelled, were also invited.
“According to INEC, with a view to looking for possible solutions that will solve what the Chairman described as lingering problems within the PDP. We have spoken with him from our own perspective. We have made presentation of what we think the issues are.
“We have spoken to those issues. And INEC had listened to us and said, even though that there are matters that are before the Court of Appeal, which have not been heard, it cannot take the place of a Court of Jurisdiction, but that they will look into what we have said very seriously,” he said.
