In a rare moment of unified public messaging, the two warring factions of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have jointly assured the nation that the party remains viable and will not collapse under the weight of its internal leadership crisis. This assurance came after a crucial intervention by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Friday, December 19, 2025.
The meeting, initiated by INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, was a direct response to the flood of conflicting correspondence from rival PDP leadership groups, creating administrative chaos and threatening the party’s participation in upcoming elections. [[PEAI_MEDIA_X]] This intervention highlights a critical, often overlooked role of INEC: acting as a mediator to preserve multi-party democracy by ensuring major political players remain functional, not just as an electoral umpire.
A Fractured Front: The Core of the Dispute
The PDP’s crisis stems from a fundamental disagreement over legitimate leadership. National Chairman Tanimu Turaki leads one faction, while the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, represents another faction backed by influential figures like the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Turaki’s Position: Speaking after the meeting, Turaki framed his group as the constitutionally elected National Working Committee (NWC). He revealed the complexity of INEC’s task, noting that the commission had also invited “some former PDP members who had previously been expelled.” He emphasized that while INEC listened, it correctly acknowledged its limits, stating it “could not act as a court of jurisdiction” on matters pending before the Court of Appeal. His key takeaway was a commitment that the PDP under his stewardship would continue its duty as the leading opposition, holding the government accountable.
Anyanwu’s Counter-Claim: From the rival camp, Anyanwu presented a starkly different legal reality. He insisted that “the court had disqualified the convention that produced the Turaki-led executive.” His faction’s participation, he suggested, was based on the PDP’s historic “mechanism of managing internal crisis.” He pinpointed the root causes as “greed, ambition, and the ego of some people,” and called for members to return to a “National Caretaker Committee for reconciliation.”
[[PEAI_MEDIA_X]] This dichotomy—one side claiming electoral legitimacy and the other judicial invalidation—exposes the toxic interplay between party politics and the judiciary in Nigeria, where internal disputes are routinely outsourced to courts for resolution.
INEC’s Precarious Balancing Act
The meeting was a masterclass in delicate political navigation. Both leaders commended INEC for granting a fair hearing, even as each claimed the commission secretly recognized their own legitimacy. Turaki praised the wisdom of inviting both sides, noting, “If you are inviting us, and then you are not inviting other people… then probably it will be us talking to ourselves.”
Beyond reconciliation, INEC’s move was intensely pragmatic. Turaki connected the dots, stating the meeting was “to avoid jeopardising the interest of PDP in the elections in FCT, Ekiti and Osun.” He issued a stark warning: conducting an election where a major opposition party is absent would “cast a dark shadow” on INEC’s credibility and the legitimacy of the entire electoral process. This underscores a vital truth: INEC’s success is paradoxically dependent on the health of the political parties it regulates.
Broader Implications for Nigerian Democracy
Turaki wisely noted that the PDP is not alone, stating, “It is not only PDP that is having this kind of issues.” His suggestion that INEC hold similar meetings with other crisis-ridden parties reveals a systemic problem in Nigerian politics: chronic internal party democracy failure. [[PEAI_MEDIA_X]] When parties are vehicles for personal ambition rather than ideological platforms, internal crises become inevitable.
Both factions’ repeated vows not to “disappoint Nigerians” and claims that “everybody wants PDP” ring hollow against the backdrop of their public squabble. The real assurance Nigerians need is not of the party’s survival, but of its transformation into a coherent, principled, and democratic institution capable of offering a genuine alternative.
The path forward remains uncertain. INEC has promised to consider the issues and respond. The ball is now in the commission’s court to craft a solution that respects the rule of law, the party’s constitution, and the overarching need for a stable opposition—a cornerstone without which Nigerian democracy cannot truly thrive. The coming weeks, leading into the mentioned elections, will be a critical test for the PDP’s resilience and INEC’s capacity as a guardian of the political process.
Reported by Emmanuel Oloniruha for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Analysis and context expanded by editorial team.
