The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other stakeholders were in a cloeed door meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, at the Commission headquarters in Abuja, to discuss some issues regarding the party’s National Secretary.
The meeting is about the Commission’s correspondence to the party ahead of their 100th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled to hopd on June 30th, 2025.
The Acting PDP Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, led the delegation of the party, which included the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawan, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftawan, and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, among other dignitaries of the party.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, said the Commission’s doors are always open to meet with leaders of political parties in their capacity as the registrar and regulator of political parties in Nigeria.
“You may recall that not long ago we received similar visitors from the Labour Party, so when the PDP said it was going to visit, we welcomed them.”
Mahmood stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of the party’s National Secretary particularly regarding the letter they sent to the party on the request for INEC to monitor their 100th NEC meeting which was only signed by the Chairman which is againt stipulated regulations and guidelines.
“I am glad that that meeting is the 100th meeting of the NEC of the party meaning that 99 times in the past you fully complied by inviting us using a letter signed by the chairman and secretary of the party so we look forward to this important clarification from the party as to who is the secretary”. Yakubu emphasised.
“In the last couple of months, we received letters from the party saying that one Mr. Sam Okoye was the secretary. Thereafter the party changed its mind and said it was Senator Anyawu, thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it’s Mr. Shokoedwe, and again the party changed its mind to say it’s Anyawu, and the last letter from the party has no secretary at all“.
The INEC Chairman noted that the notification for the party’s 100th NEC meeting was only signed by the chairman, which we responded to, “but we are here as the registrar and regulators of political parties, and we hope that when we go into the working session, we will fully understand where you are coming from and what more you expect from us the registrar and regulators of political parties,” he stated.
In his response, the Acting Chairman of the PDP said “We are here today to discuss and interact with you on some key issues that concern our party, which I prefer to be off camera.”
After the close door meeting, the Acting Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagun did not disclose the out come of the meeting with the commission until they discuss with the party Stakeholders in the States.
Confidence Okwuchi