Kabiru Turaki, national chairman of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday led his faction to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) amid escalating disputes over leadership legitimacy and preparations for forthcoming elections.
Turaki said his group was invited by INEC following an earlier request to engage the commission on what it described as lingering internal problems within the PDP.
He disclosed that the meeting, initially sought by his faction, was expanded to include individuals who had previously been expelled from the party.
Turaki said his group presented its position clearly to the commission and expressed confidence that INEC would carefully review the submissions made.
Read also: Police seal PDP national secretariat amid escalating factional crisis
While noting that some of the issues were already before the courts, he said INEC acknowledged it could not usurp judicial powers but assured that the matters raised would be examined.
Turaki insisted that his faction remained the authentic leadership of the PDP and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its role as Nigeria’s leading opposition.
He said the PDP would continue to hold the APC-led federal government accountable on matters of security, infrastructure decay, governance, and justice.
Responding to questions on whether INEC’s joint invitation amounted to recognition of rival factions, Turaki defended the commission’s approach, likening it to elders hearing all sides in a dispute to ensure a fair hearing.
He said reconciliation efforts required listening to all claimants, even where legitimacy was contested.
On concerns that the crisis could affect the PDP’s chances in the forthcoming FCT elections, Turaki said INEC had a responsibility to ensure no major party was excluded from participation, warning that such exclusion could undermine the credibility of the polls.
He added that internal conflicts were not limited to the PDP and called on INEC to examine the root causes of growing instability across opposition parties.
On the other side, Samuel Anyanwu, factional national secretary of the party aligned with the Nyesom Wike camp, insisted that the current national leadership structure of the PDP had expired and lacked legal standing.
Anyanwu said the tenure of the PDP National Executive Committee elapsed in December, stressing that the party had no valid convention following court rulings that halted the process.
According to him, “The caretaker committee currently in place was lawfully constituted by the party’s highest organ to stabilise the PDP and organise an inclusive national convention.”
He said the caretaker committee was acting strictly within the framework of court judgments, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines.
Anyanwu accused some party leaders of operating outside the party structure and urged them to return for reconciliation.
He assured Nigerians that the PDP would conduct a credible and lawful convention that would restore unity and reposition the party as a strong opposition force.
He maintained that the caretaker committee remained the only recognised and organised body within the party at the moment.
Earlier, Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, said the engagement followed the receipt of conflicting correspondences from different factions of the PDP, raising concerns over compliance with electoral guidelines and preparations for forthcoming polls.
He said the commission is statutorily empowered under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act to monitor the activities of political parties, in addition to conducting elections.
INEC confirmed that the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory are scheduled for February 21, 2026, while governorship and state assembly elections are slated for mid-2026, in line with its published timetable and schedule of activities already circulated to political parties.
According to the commission, the meeting was convened to provide a platform for party leaders to engage constructively, clarify issues, and agree on a clear path forward as preparations for the elections gather momentum.
Amupitan said discussions were guided strictly by the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the commission’s regulations and guidelines, noting that adherence to these legal frameworks remains non-negotiable.
The electoral body reaffirmed its commitment to the sanctity of the Constitution and pledged to apply all relevant laws and regulations fairly in managing party affairs and election processes.
INEC urged all parties to engage responsibly and resolve internal issues in line with the law to ensure a smooth and credible electoral process in 2026.
