How INEC Effectively ‘Settled’ PDP Leadership Crisis–Sources
How INEC Effectively ‘Settled’ PDP Leadership Crisis–Sources
The struggle over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appears to have shifted decisively after a series of actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were interpreted within the party as confirmation that the Commission currently recognises the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC.
According to reliable PDP sources familiar with the party’s internal dynamics, recent developments particularly INEC’s physical monitoring of the Osun governorship primary and its rejection of a letter from the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led group seeking to postpone the Ekiti congresses and primary have effectively clarified the Commission’s institutional position.
“From where we sit inside the party, this whole debate about legitimacy shouldn’t even exist. The Turaki-led NWC is the one INEC recognises. That’s the simple truth,” a senior insider said.
He explained that INEC’s acceptance of official notices signed by the Turaki-led NWC, as well as the presence of five INEC officials at the Osun primary, amounted to a practical endorsement of the leadership that emerged from the December 8 convention.
“Even the official notice for the Osun governorship primary, which INEC physically monitored, was signed by the Turaki team. Everyone saw what happened in Osogbo on Tuesday,” he added.
The crisis escalated after the Anyanwu-led group wrote to INEC announcing a postponement of the Ekiti primary. INEC declined to act on the letter because it did not meet the Commission’s basic procedural requirements.
“What happened with the Ekiti issue is straightforward. Anyanwu’s camp wrote to INEC claiming they had postponed the primary, but the document wasn’t signed by the chairman and secretary recognised by INEC. Naturally, the Commission said it could not act on it,” the source explained.
He further noted that the PDP had earlier acknowledged INEC’s letter rejecting the Anyanwu camp’s notice to postpone the Ekiti congresses and governorship primary. According to him, the party possesses photos and documents confirming that the letter was transmitted to them.
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“A few days later, INEC tried to distance itself from the version of the letter that leaked. But we have photos showing they wrote and sent it to us. It wasn’t something meant for the press, so how it became public remains unclear,” he said.
Another insider revealed that INEC had privately urged the PDP leadership to conduct the Osun primary quickly to avoid missing the legal window, which could have left the party without a candidate.
“To be honest, INEC was even nudging the NWC to hold the Osun primary promptly. They didn’t want the party to lose the chance to field a candidate. Imagine the signal that would have been sent ahead of 2027,” he said.
On reports of rival blocs within the PDP, the sources insisted that the current situation does not amount to a factional split.
“This talk about ‘factions’ is exaggerated. In the PDP, a faction emerges only when there is a physical walkout at a convention, followed by the formation of parallel structures. The only time that happened was when five governors walked out at Eagle Square before the 2015 elections. Nothing like that has occurred now. Technically speaking, there is no faction in the PDP today,” one insider said.
The party now awaits the judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan on the legality of the December 8 convention. The ruling, expected next week, is anticipated to provide formal clarity on the leadership question.
“But as far as the internal mechanics of the party and INEC’s actions are concerned, the situation is already clear,” one of the sources added.
