Manny Ita –
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognized the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, marking a pivotal turn in the protracted leadership struggle within Nigeria’s main opposition party. The decision was formalized on Thursday during INEC’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders, where the Wike-aligned factional chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, was seated as the legitimate representative of the PDP.
The move follows a judgment by the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which directed the electoral umpire to recognize the Mohammed-led caretaker committee as the authentic leadership of the party. Consequently, INEC invited Mohammed and the Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to the high-level meeting in Abuja—an event strictly reserved for the national chairmen and secretaries of recognized political parties. This recognition effectively sidelines the rival National Working Committee (NWC) led by the Turaki-backed faction, which has been locked in a legal and political battle with the Wike camp for control of the party’s machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the gathering of party leaders, the newly appointed INEC Chairman, Prof. Josiah Amupitan, emphasized the commission’s obligation to adhere to judicial pronouncements despite the internal friction such decisions may cause. “The commission remains a creature of the law. We are bound to respect the orders of the court regarding party leadership to maintain the integrity of our consultative processes,” Amupitan noted. He also warned that persistent internal crises within political parties continue to have a “negative impact on electoral integrity” and the stability of the nation’s democratic landscape.
The recognition of the Wike-backed faction has intensified the existential crisis within the PDP, with the displaced NWC members describing the move as a threat to the party’s internal democracy. Supporters of the Turaki-led faction have hinted at an immediate appeal, arguing that the court order being enforced by INEC is a “miscarriage of justice” orchestrated to weaken the opposition. Conversely, allies of the FCT Minister have hailed the development as a “victory for the rule of law” and a necessary step toward reorganizing the party.
As INEC proceeds with its 2026 roadmap, including the revalidation of the voter register, the formalized split in the PDP suggests a difficult path to reconciliation. With the Mohammed-led committee now holding the official seal of the electoral commission, the faction gains control over crucial party functions, including the primary processes for upcoming off-cycle elections and the strategic positioning of the party for the 2027 presidential cycle.
