INEC chair meets PDP factions, insists on compliance with electoral laws

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, yesterday met with the contending factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, insisting that the commission would be guided strictly by the constitution, the electoral act and its regulations in all dealings with political parties ahead of the forthcoming elections. The […]

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, yesterday met with the contending factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, insisting that the commission would be guided strictly by the constitution, the electoral act and its regulations in all dealings with political parties ahead of the forthcoming elections.

The interactive meeting brought together the Tanimu Turaki-led faction and the Nyesom Wike-backed Abdulrahman Mohammed faction amid the lingering leadership crisis within the opposition party.

Turaki attended the meeting alongside members of his National Working Committee (NWC), secretariat staff and a former governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu. Mohammed, on his part, was accompanied by members of his national caretaker committee, including its secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.

Addressing the meeting, Amupitan said the engagement became necessary following a series of conflicting correspondences received by the commission from different factions of the PDP, seeking INEC’s intervention on various internal party matters.

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“We have received a number of correspondences from the Peoples Democratic Party, and we felt that bringing everyone together would provide an opportunity to engage constructively and forge a way forward,” he said.

The INEC chairman stressed that beyond conducting elections, the commission is constitutionally mandated to monitor the activities of political parties, adding that this responsibility informs all its actions and decisions.

Amupitan disclosed that INEC had already issued its timetable and schedule of activities to political parties as part of preparations for upcoming elections, assuring stakeholders that the commission remains on course to deliver credible and orderly polls.

He specifically highlighted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, as well as other elections slated later in the year, noting that early engagement with parties is critical.

Amupitan explained that the interactive session was designed to allow for open and frank discussions, especially in the light of the contradictory submissions received from the PDP.

He emphasised that INEC would be guided strictly by what he described as the three legal pillars underpinning the commission’s operations – the constitution, electoral act and INEC regulations.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Senator Sam Anyanwu said the engagement with INEC was constructive and reassuring, describing the commission’s leadership as “wise” and genuinely interested in the stability of the opposition party.

Anyanwu said the caretaker committee was duly appointed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees following the expiration of the previous national leadership in December, stressing that the body remains the only recognised structure pending a fresh convention.

Anyanwu also called on aggrieved members “parading themselves as officers of the party” to return and participate in an all-inclusive and credible national convention, insisting that adherence to the rule of law and party constitution remains paramount.

On his part, Tanimu Turaki said the meeting focused on resolving “housekeeping issues” within the party, adding that INEC’s decision to hear all contending sides was in the spirit of fairness and reconciliation.

Turaki said although some of the matters raised were currently before the Court of Appeal, the commission assured participants that it would carefully review all submissions made.

“We have made presentations from our own perspective and INEC has listened to us. While they cannot take the place of a court of competent jurisdiction, they said they would look into the issues very seriously,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the electoral body would revert to the parties once its internal consultations were concluded, either through another meeting or official correspondence.

Turaki further assured Nigerians that the PDP remained focused on its role as the leading opposition party, pledging continued scrutiny of the APC-led federal government.

But the Turaki-led faction, in a statement by  Ini Ememobong, its national publicity secretary, insisted that many people in the Abdulrahman Muhammed faction were no longer members of the party, having been expelled at the Ibadan national convention and issued their expulsion letters.

Ex-INEC official warns commission against meddling in party factional disputes

Meanwhile, a former senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission has cautioned the electoral umpire against getting involved in factional crisis within political parties, warning that such intervention could compromise the commission’s independence.

Speaking to Weekend Trust on condition of anonymity, the former official said the Supreme Court had made it clear that issues bordering on internal party politics should be resolved strictly within the parties.

“The Supreme Court has made it very clear that issues relating to the internal politics of political parties should be dealt with internally by the parties themselves,” he said.

He explained that INEC’s official records only recognise the names of duly registered national chairmen and national secretaries of political parties, alongside party constitutions that spell out tenure limits and procedures for electing new officers.

“As far as the commission is concerned, what it has in its docket are the names of the national chairman and the national secretary of all the existing political parties,” he said, adding that the law also requires parties to give INEC at least 21 days’ notice before holding conventions or congresses.

According to him, once the legal requirements are met, INEC may attend such meetings or decline to do so, but must avoid actions that could drag it into intra-party disputes.

“If there are factions in the PDP and the commission convenes a meeting of the factions, how many factions are there in the PDP now? If the commission begins to deal with factions of political parties, it evokes itself into a situation where it will be accused of being partisan,” he added.

The former official said political parties already had internal dispute-resolution structures, including state and national executive committees, as well as boards of trustees, which should be activated to address disagreements.

He warned that any decision taken by INEC after engaging factions could trigger accusations of bias. “The moment it takes a decision, one of the factions will say the commission is being partisan or influenced. Then it becomes a problem,” he also said.