PDP CRISIS DEEPENS AS WIKE-BACKED FACTION GAINS INEC RECOGNITION

Officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday attended a key meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a move widely seen as a tacit recognition of the faction’s leadership.

The PDP National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, alongside the party’s Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, were among party leaders invited to INEC’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in 2026.

The meeting, held in Abuja, is traditionally reserved for national chairmen and national secretaries of political parties officially recognised by the electoral commission.

Mohammed and Anyanwu’s presence followed a ruling by the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which directed INEC to recognise the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee as the legitimate leadership of the PDP.

The development deals a setback to the rival faction led by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, which has been locked in a prolonged leadership tussle within the party.

Meanwhile, INEC has raised concerns over persistent leadership crises within political parties, warning that such infighting poses a threat to Nigeria’s constitutional order and electoral stability.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, speaking at the meeting, lamented the growing number of internal disputes and litigations involving political parties, noting that the commission is increasingly being dragged into factional battles.

“Our collective commitment to the integrity of the electoral process is being undermined by the rising frequency of leadership crises within political parties,” Amupitan said.“

These disputes often lead to unnecessary litigation, which over stretches the judicial system and distracts the Commission from its constitutional responsibilities.”

He added that repeated court cases over party leadership have become a major distraction to voter mobilisation and election preparation.“Each litigation consumes valuable time and resources.

At times, one wonders whether it is sustainable to continue registering or retaining some political parties, given the recurring leadership disputes and conflicting court orders,” he said.

At the meeting, INEC also announced the registration of two new political parties: the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Amupitan, the DLA was registered after meeting all constitutional and regulatory requirements, while the NDC was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.

With the new additions, the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria has risen to 21.