The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened talks with the two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The meeting is taking place at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja and is aimed at addressing internal disputes threatening the party’s stability.
This emergency engagement brings together representatives of the factions led by Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed.
The Mohammed faction is widely known to be backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the Turaki group claims recognition by key party structures.
Sources within the commission confirmed that the meeting is part of INEC’s effort to clarify the leadership status of the PDP and prevent further confusion ahead of future electoral activities.
The commission is said to be concerned about conflicting communications and submissions from the party.
Tanimu Turaki arrived at the meeting with several members of his National Working Committee.
Also present in his delegation were officials of the party secretariat and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who is regarded as a key stakeholder within the PDP.
On the other side, Abdulrahman Mohammed led members of the PDP’s national caretaker committee to the meeting.
Among those in his team was the committee’s secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, alongside other senior figures aligned with the faction.
The closed-door meeting is expected to focus on documentation, leadership claims, and possible pathways toward resolving the internal rift that has divided the opposition party in recent months.
INEC officials are reportedly seeking clarity to determine which faction holds legitimate authority to act on behalf of the PDP.
As of the time of filing this report, discussions were still ongoing, and no official statement had been released by INEC or the PDP factions.
Our leader should be very careful. The cane used to flog the main wife is still reserved on the rafter for the junior wife. The leadership partition for the ruling party now should not be seen as the best solution for the ongoing war in PDP. If the present leaders can’t solve the lingering crisis rocking PDP now, rest assured that if similar or more chronic problems brake forth in APC in future, they will not be able to confront it. The devil in PDP now, can move to APC or any other strong party in future; even with chronic problem than what is happening at present.