Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday held a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja, as preparations intensify for upcoming elections and reforms ahead of 2027.
The meeting, chaired by INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, was attended by representatives of several political parties, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The group is led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Key issues discussed included preparations for the February 21 FCT area council elections, revalidation of the voter register, declining voter turnout and steps to strengthen internal party democracy.
Noticeably absent from the meeting was the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, highlighting the deepening leadership crisis within the opposition party.
The PDP has remained divided following disputes over its national leadership and convention. A Federal High Court in Ibadan recently nullified the party’s November 15, 2025 national convention, ruling that it was conducted in violation of existing court orders. The court barred the Turaki-led NWC from parading itself as the party’s national leadership and directed that the PDP operate through a caretaker committee pending a valid convention.
Turaki has rejected the judgement, insisting the convention remains valid and disclosing that the party has filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution. Meanwhile, INEC has declined to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing multiple subsisting court rulings.
The leadership tussle has resulted in parallel party structures, with Wike and his allies forming separate national organs after being expelled at the disputed convention.
