Fresh trouble for PDP as INEC rejects NEC notice

There appears to be no end in sight to crisis plaguing the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the notice sent to it over the party’s100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30.

A letter seen by Daily Trust on Tuesday, signed by Hajiya Hau’ru Aminu, who identified as the acting Secretary of INEC, communicated the commission’s decision, citing a violation of procedural guidelines.

Dated June 13 and addressed to the PDP national chairman, the letter referenced INEC/DEPM/PDP/286/iii and was titled: “RE: NOTICE OF 100TH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY.”

INEC said the notice failed to comply with its guidelines, particularly Part 2(12)(3) of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which stipulates that such notices must be jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary of the party.

The letter stated, “The commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of Part 2(12)(3) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which provides that ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission.’ Be guided.”

This is coming on the heels of other issues bedeviling the party. It would be recalled that the party’s 99th NEC meeting also faced major setbacks after the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) sealed the PDP national headquarters less than 24 hours before the scheduled meeting over unpaid ground rents. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s intervention—directing that all defaulters be granted a two-week grace period—the meeting was eventually relocated to the party’s presidential campaign office, Legacy House, in the Maitama District.

However, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his loyalists dismissed the gathering as a mere stakeholders’ meeting, arguing that it could not be considered a NEC meeting since the notice was not issued by the embattled national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

The PDP’s notice for the 100th NEC meeting to INEC, seen by Daily Trust, was signed solely by the acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

Dated May 30, the letter informed the electoral commission of the party’s intention to hold its 100th NEC meeting at its national secretariat in Abuja. The notification was in line with INEC’s 21-day notice requirement for political party NEC meetings.

However, the issue might not have arisen if not for lingering internal crises within the PDP.

Since the 2023 presidential primaries, the PDP has been plagued by divisions following the defeat of then-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Wike refused to support the party’s presidential candidate and instead backed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aside that, another crisis emerged over the position of national secretary, with conflicting interests surrounding Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who was replaced by Sunday Ude-Okoye after contesting the Imo governorship election, which he lost to Governor Hope Uzodinma.

On returning from the election, Anyanwu sought to reclaim his position, sparking a prolonged legal battle that eventually ended at the Supreme Court.

The apex court’s judgment has triggered further division, with PDP governors reportedly favouring a replacement from the South-east, while Wike insists on Anyanwu’s return.

To manage the controversy, the party appointed Setonji Koshoedo as acting national secretary pending resolution.

Efforts by Daily Trust to get an official reaction from the party were unsuccessful, as national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, could not be reached.

However, Kola Ologbondiyan, a former national publicity secretary and member of the National Working Committee (NWC), told Daily Trust that INEC misapplied the referenced guideline and that the party was not worried.

He said, “Part 2(12)(3), which INEC referred to, is derived from Part 12(1) of their guidelines, which requires a 21-day notice for meetings, conventions, or conferences for mergers or election of officers. Such notices are to be jointly signed by the chairman and secretary.”

“But for the NEC meeting on June 30, no election or merger is involved. We are merely ratifying decisions from our last national convention. It has nothing to do with electing officials or merging parties.”

Ologbondiyan added, “The party is not fazed by INEC’s letter. Our NEC meeting is going ahead as scheduled. We do not intend to dignify what appears to be an error from the acting INEC secretary, who seems inexperienced.”

Similarly, Elder Timothy Osadolor, a PDP NEC member, accused INEC of overstepping its mandate and veering into partisanship.

He said the Supreme Court had already ruled that internal party matters fall outside INEC’s purview.

“Our constitution is very clear. The party chairman has the authority to function in the capacity of any member of the NWC. He may also delegate responsibilities at his discretion,” Osadolor explained.

He stressed that INEC’s role was to observe, not to dictate: “No law says that an activity becomes invalid simply because INEC did not observe it. INEC must stop acting beyond its constitutional remit and avoid being seen as partisan.”

He added, “The Supreme Court has ruled that the internal affairs of political parties are non-justiciable and should not be subjected to third-party interference.”

When contacted, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Trust, confirmed the authenticity of the letter, saying INEC is a law abiding institutions and expect all stakeholders to abide by the rules.
He declined further comments on the matter.

Another official who insisted on not being named over non authorisation, however, told Daily Trust that it is in the best interest of the PDP to comply with the guidelines and should not just go ahead with the meeting to avoid untoward consequences.