The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) effectively endorsed the National Caretaker Committee backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
This development became evident during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders on Thursday.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, who chairs the Wike-aligned caretaker group, and the Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, were both present at the high-level session.
The significance of their attendance cannot be overstated, as INEC’s protocol strictly limits participation in these quarterly briefings to the national chairmen and secretaries of parties it officially recognizes.
By allowing Mohammed and Anyanwu to represent the PDP, the electoral umpire has sent a clear signal regarding which faction holds the keys to the party’s administrative legitimacy.
This move follows a recent legal victory for the group. A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan had previously issued an order compelling INEC to acknowledge the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee as the authentic leadership of the main opposition party.
The court’s decision essentially nullified the claims of rival groups and provided a legal foundation for the commission’s current stance.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria earlier today reported that the Wike faction of the PDP was scheduled for a critical meeting with INEC officials to discuss the party’s standing and the implementation of recent judicial pronouncements.