INEC Wades Into PDP Crises, Meets With Wike, Makinde Factions

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has moved  to settle the festering  leadership and internal crises bedeviling the Peoples Democratic party, PDP.

The Electoral umpire, in a bid to resolve the protracted crises was on Friday December 19, 2025, locked in a reconciliatory parley with the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction and the Nyesom Wike-backed Abdulraham Mohammed group.

The meeting which  held at the INEC Abuja National Headquarters, was conducted behind closed doors with the two factions fully respected.

The Source reports that the crises within the PDP’s fold which began before the 2023 general elections in November, escalated with the two groups announcing separate national leaderships.

The two factions have also been engaged in expulsion and counter expulsion exercise.

After the expulsion of the Wike, Samuel Anyawu and others at the Ibadan National Convention on November 15, the Wike group retaliated by announcing the expulsion of Governors Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammad of Oyo and Bauchi States and others.

This is as the two factions dissolved the executive committees of some states considered to be disloyal.

However, the Electoral Commission at the Friday meeting expressed serious concern over the crisis, noting that it is disturbing to be receiving opposing correspondences from the two groups.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, particularly described the crisis as worrisome and unhealthy for the survival of the country’s democracy.

He emphasized the readiness and commitment of the Commission to get to the root of the matter with a view to resolving any perceived differences.

The Turaki faction was fully represented by members of the National Working Committee NWC, party workers, some members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, including former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu.

The Wike Group, had in attendance members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyawu.

Although details of the meeting were not available as at the time of reporting, sources revealed that the Electoral Umpire is most likely to resolve which of the two factions will merit its recognition if the two groups fail to reconcile.