The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a sharper turn on Thursday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acknowledged a caretaker committee linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
INEC’s decision has heightened tensions within the opposition party, drawing strong reactions from a rival bloc loyal to PDP governors and headed by senior advocate Tanimu Turaki, who is also laying claim to the position of national chairman.
The controversy became more pronounced when INEC invited the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee to its quarterly consultative forum with political parties. Mohammed attended the meeting alongside the caretaker secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
During the meeting, INEC’s seating arrangement appeared to underscore its position, as Mohammed sat in the front row on a seat marked “PDP Chairman,” while Anyanwu occupied a chair directly behind him labelled “PDP National Secretary.”
Addressing journalists after the closed-door engagement, Anyanwu confirmed that the commission formally recognised the caretaker committee as the party’s leadership.
“We were invited as the recognised leadership of the PDP to take part in this important consultative meeting between INEC and political parties,” he said. “The recent court ruling has addressed the leadership dispute that had plagued the party.”
According to him, the caretaker committee, under Mohammed’s leadership, is now positioned to stabilise and reorganise the party ahead of future elections.
Anyanwu also revealed that the committee would formally assume control of Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, on Monday, adding that preparations were underway to ensure the party presents candidates in the 2027 general elections.
