The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Thursday after the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, hosted the Kabiru Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC) and members of a rival faction claiming various leadership positions within the party.
According to a statement released by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the closed-door meeting was convened by INEC to “find a way to resolve the lingering crisis in the party.”Both delegations reportedly presented their positions in detail and confirmed that the matter is presently before the Court of Appeal.
At the end of the engagement, the INEC Chairman clarified that the Commission had only invited both sides to hear directly from them, noting that INEC is fully aware of the ongoing litigation and will await the appellate court’s final judgment.
Speaking after the meeting, PDP National Chairman Kabiru Turaki SAN maintained that his leadership remains the authentic NWC, having emerged from a valid national convention—even though the process is being contested in court. He reiterated that pending the court’s decision, the party under his leadership will continue to play its constitutional role as the main opposition.
Turaki added that the PDP will intensify efforts to hold the government accountable on key national issues such as security, infrastructure, education and healthcare.
The crisis, which has split the party into factions, remains one of the most consequential internal battles in the PDP’s recent history, with national leadership control at the heart of the dispute.
