Wike faction represents PDP at INEC session amid Turaki leadership absence

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are currently holding a high-level consultative meeting with leaders of various political parties in Abuja as preparations intensify for upcoming elections.

The meeting, chaired by INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, has drawn representatives from several registered political parties, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Discussions at the session are focused on key electoral matters, particularly preparations for the February 21 FCT area council elections, which are expected to serve as an important test of the commission’s readiness.

Other issues on the agenda include the revalidation of the voter register, tackling declining voter turnout, and improving internal party democracy as Nigeria gradually gears up for the 2027 general elections.

However, the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP national working committee (NWC) is absent from the sit-down.

The opposition party is polarised into two factions.

Last month, a federal high court in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo, nullified the national convention held in the state on November 15, 2025.

In a ruling on Friday, Uche Agomoh, the presiding judge, declined the Turaki-led PDP’s request for an order to compel INEC to recognise the national convention.

Agomoh barred the Turaki-led NWC from parading itself as the party’s leadership, saying the convention was organised in flagrant disregard of the court orders.

The judge ruled that PDP cannot disobey court orders and then approach the court to seek judicial approval for actions taken in defiance of those orders.

The judge further held that the PDP can only operate through the caretaker committee until a proper and lawful national convention is held.

Turaki, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), criticised the verdict, saying the judge granted reliefs that were neither requested nor argued by any of the parties.

Turaki said the party has filed a notice of appeal as well as a motion for stay of execution of the judgement, adding that the convention remains “legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth” of the party.

The convention was backed by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi.

The national convention was preceded by a series of conflicting court judgements, with some rulings from federal high courts in Abuja halting the event over alleged breaches of party constitution and electoral laws, while the Oyo state high court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed with the exercise and directed INEC to monitor it.

Wike and his allies were expelled from the party at the convention.

The Wike group would later form a parallel NWC, a board of trustees (BoT), and a national executive committee (NEC).

In December, INEC rejected the request to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing multiple court judgements for its decision.