The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) notification for its upcoming 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, citing a breach of procedural requirements.
In a letter dated June 13, 2025, addressed to the party’s National Chairman, INEC pointed out that the submission did not adhere to the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
INEC referred specifically to Part 2(12)3, which requires that “the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission.”
The letter, signed by Acting Secretary to the Commission, Hajiya Hau’ru Aminu, emphasized that the PDP’s notice lacked the mandatory joint signatures.
Although the notice was submitted within the legally required 21-day timeframe, it was signed solely by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, without co-signature from the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
“The Commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice is not in compliance… Be guided,” the letter partly read.
PDP had earlier informed INEC on May 30, 2025, of its intention to hold the NEC meeting on June 30 at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The meeting is set to focus on critical party matters, including ongoing leadership disputes, ratification of zonal congresses, and committee reports.
The PDP has been grappling with an intense internal crisis following the fallout from the 2023 elections.
In recent months, the party witnessed significant defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly among National Assembly members and state officials.
Notable defections in April included Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with several commissioners and political actors in the state.
In response to the defections, the PDP National Working Committee convened an emergency meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja that same month.
Amid ongoing internal tensions, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and other G5 members met on June 9 to push for zoning the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region.
Meanwhile, 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has been holding consultations with key political figures such as Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai to build a strong opposition coalition ahead of 2027, aiming to counter what they perceive as a growing “one-party state” under the APC.
However, some party members oppose coalition talks, while senior figures like Bode George remain confident about resolving disputes and reuniting before the planned NEC meeting
