The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) turned down the party’s notification for its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The meeting was planned to hold on June 30 at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
It was meant to tackle several unresolved issues, especially the controversy over who holds the position of National Secretary.
However, INEC’s decision may disrupt the PDP’s timeline, including its planned convention in August.
The letter inviting INEC to the meeting was sent on May 30 and was signed by the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Although it was received the same day by the electoral body, INEC responded on June 13 saying the notice did not meet its requirements.
INEC, through a letter signed by its Acting Secretary Mathru Aminu, explained that the invitation was not valid because it lacked the joint signature of both the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, as required by its 2022 rules for political parties.
The development has cast doubt on the planned NEC meeting, which was expected to provide a chance for party leaders to settle disputes and unify ahead of the coming months.
One major issue that was supposed to be addressed at the meeting is the lingering battle over the position of National Secretary.
Although the Supreme Court had in March restored Senator Samuel Anyanwu to the post after setting aside earlier court rulings that removed him, some party members and organs have continued to ignore the decision and refuse to recognise his leadership.
The situation has left the PDP’s internal affairs more unstable, with no clear resolution in sight as key events draw closer.
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