The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) summoned rival factions of Nigeria's main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its headquarters in Abuja on December 19, 2025, to address a deepening leadership crisis. The intervention aims to resolve conflicting claims over party control ahead of critical polls, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections on February 21, 2026. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan presided over the meeting, which shifted to closed-door talks after initial plenary sessions.
INEC initiated the meeting amid duelling correspondence from PDP factions, each claiming legitimacy as the party's National Working Committee (NWC). According to reports, Tanimu Turaki's faction, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, attended alongside representatives from Abdulrahman Mohammed's group, supported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and Senator Sam Anyanwu.
The PDP crisis traces to post-2023 general election fallout, particularly primaries disputes between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the G5 governors led by Wike. Tensions escalated when Wike, now a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, refused to endorse Atiku.
In November 2025, Makinde's group convened in Ibadan, electing Turaki as acting National Chairman and expelling Wike, Ayodele Fayose, Anyanwu, and others for alleged anti-party activities. Wike's faction rejected the gathering as "illegal," set up parallel structures, and filed lawsuits against INEC and police over the convention and secretariat access.
