Inside The Closed-Door Talks” — PDP Warring Factions Reveal What Happened At INEC Meeting

Fresh details have emerged from the meeting between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Leaders of the rival PDP factions, led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Kabiru Turaki, met with INEC officials at the Commission’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday in an effort to address the party’s protracted internal crisis.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the engagement was convened to explore possible solutions to the lingering disputes within the party.

Both camps spoke separately to journalists after the closed-door meeting.

Anyanwu praised the INEC chairman for convening the talks, describing him as a wise leader whose approach reflected the Commission’s desire for the PDP to remain a strong opposition force in Nigeria.

According to him, INEC is reviewing the issues and possible options for restoring peace within the party.

“We are yet to get a decision from the party’s NEC on the matter, but both sides were given the opportunity to speak,” he said.

He noted that discussions identified gaps and sources of the crisis, which he attributed to grievances, aggression and personal ego, stressing that the PDP remains committed to the rule of law, electoral guidelines and its internal regulatory framework.

Anyanwu added that the party has established mechanisms for resolving internal disputes and expressed confidence that the PDP would emerge stronger from the crisis.

On his part, Turaki, who leads the faction that emerged from the Oyo convention, said the group received a late invitation from INEC to attend the meeting.

He explained that while his faction initially believed the meeting was in response to an earlier request, they later discovered that individuals previously expelled from the party were also invited.

According to Turaki, INEC explained that the meeting was aimed at seeking lasting solutions to the PDP’s internal challenges.

He said his faction presented its own perspective on the issues, which INEC listened to carefully, noting that although some matters are currently before the Court of Appeal, the Commission assured them it would study their submissions seriously.

Addressing concerns over INEC’s recognition of factions, Turaki likened the situation to elders mediating a land dispute, noting that all parties must be heard to ensure fairness and reconciliation.

He added that inviting all claimants was appropriate in the spirit of peace-building, stressing that he saw nothing wrong with INEC’s approach to the dialogue.