The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that it will be guided by the final judgment of the Court of Appeal in resolving the lingering leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This position was made known by the INEC Chairman, Professor. Joash Amupitan, SAN, during a meeting convened by the commission, which brought together the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP and some former party members laying claim to various leadership positions.
The leadership dispute has its roots in disagreements arising from the PDP’s national convention, which produced an NWC headed by Kabiru Turaki, SAN. The outcome of the convention was challenged by aggrieved stakeholders, leading to the emergence of factions and parallel claims to the party’s leadership.
As the crisis deepened, several suits were filed questioning the validity of the convention and the legitimacy of those claiming leadership positions. These cases have since been consolidated and are now before the Court of Appeal.
Addressing the parties at the meeting, Professor Amupitan said INEC invited the contending factions to “find a way to resolve the lingering crisis in the party,” while acknowledging that the commission is fully aware of the pending legal processes.
Both sides presented their positions exhaustively at the meeting and confirmed that the matter is currently before the Court of Appeal. At the end of the deliberations, the INEC Chairman emphasised that the meeting was essentially to hear from all parties involved and reiterated that the commission would await the final judgment of the court before taking any definitive position.
Speaking after the meeting, the PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, maintained that his committee remains the authentic leadership of the party, having emerged from what he described as a valid national convention, even though the outcome is being contested in court.
“As the authentic leadership of the party that emerged from a valid convention though contested in court while awaiting the pronouncement of the Court, we will continue to carry out our duties as an opposition party,” Turaki said.
He added that the PDP under his leadership would remain focused on holding the government accountable on critical national issues such as security, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, despite the ongoing internal dispute.