The rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have refused to shift ground despite the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Both camps have continued to lay claim to the party’s leadership, with Wike’s bloc insisting it represents the authentic structure of the PDP, while the Makinde-backed group maintains it is the rightful custodian.
AFRIPOST had reported that INEC intervened in the crisis on Friday by inviting leaders of the feuding factions to its headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting involved the faction chaired by Tanimu Turaki and the opposing group led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Explaining the move, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission acted in line with its constitutional duty to monitor political parties, especially ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council elections and the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls.
“And we are aware that INEC is charged statutorily under the Act and under the Constitution to monitor the activities of political parties,” he said.
Responding to the intervention, the Makinde-backed faction said it would continue to function as a political party while awaiting the outcome of pending cases at the Court of Appeal.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said INEC could not determine party leadership and described the meeting as a mere interaction.
“The two rulings of Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu of the Federal High Courts on the convention are being challenged. So, everyone has to wait for the Appeal Court judgment.
“We know that the court shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of any political party, and the court didn’t stop our November convention. It just said INEC shouldn’t attend, while the other said Sule Lamido should be included. We are contending that those are internal affairs of the party,” Ememobong said.
On his part, the Acting National Youth Leader aligned with Wike, Timothy Osadolor, said the leadership dispute remained in court and could only be resolved if parties withdrew their cases.
He added that those who attended the Ibadan convention were advised to either return to the party or seek alignment elsewhere, noting that some participants had already defected.