PDP Crisis: INEC Hosts the Two Factions, Says It Receives Conflicting Letters from Both

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has held an interactive session with different factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to strengthen adherence to constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act, and the Commission’s regulations as preparations intensify for upcoming elections.

The meeting took place on Friday, December 19, 2025, at INEC headquarters.

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, told party leaders that the engagement was necessitated by multiple correspondences received from various quarters within the party, requesting the Commission’s intervention on diverse matters.

The INEC boss emphasised that INEC possesses both constitutional and statutory mandates to monitor political party activities beyond its primary responsibility of conducting elections, adding that these obligations inform all the Commission’s actions and decisions.

He informed attendees that the Commission has already distributed its timetable and schedule of activities to political parties as part of electoral preparations, affirming that INEC remains committed to delivering credible polls.

The INEC boss highlighted the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, alongside other electoral activities planned for later in the year, stressing the importance of early stakeholder engagement to ensure orderly participation and procedural compliance.

Professor Amupitan explained that the meeting was organized to create a platform for open and constructive dialogue, particularly given the conflicting correspondence emanating from the PDP, with the aim of establishing common ground and charting a clear direction.

He assured party officials that the Commission would be guided strictly by three legal frameworks: the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s regulations and guidelines, which underpin all the Commission’s operations.

Professor Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to upholding the sanctity of the law consistently, noting that strict adherence to legal provisions remains fundamental to preserving electoral process integrity.

He encouraged participants to engage in candid and productive discussions, expressing optimism that the interactive session would help resolve outstanding issues and foster a more coordinated approach to the elections.

The INEC Chairman expressed appreciation to party officials for honoring the Commission’s invitation and reiterated INEC’s dedication to continuous stakeholder engagement in pursuit of credible and transparent elections.

The meeting comes as the main opposition party continues to grapple with internal challenges that have generated multiple factional claims to party leadership and sparked competing communications to the electoral umpire.