Isaac Samuel
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will, on Tuesday, meet with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), amid controversy arising from the Commission’s recent rejection of a notice for the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the INEC Conference Hall in Abuja.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed the notice of the meeting between the commission and the PDP leadership in an invitation message to journalists on Monday.
While the official agenda of the meeting is yet to be disclosed, it may not be unconnected to INEC’s recent rejection of the PDP’s notice for its forthcoming 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
INEC, in a letter dated June 13 and signed by its Acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu, rejected the PDP’s notice on grounds that it did not meet the requirements outlined in its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
The PDP’s May 30 notice, which was received by INEC, was signed solely by the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, without the mandatory co-signature of the National Secretary.
Quoting Part 2(12)3 of the guidelines, INEC reminded the PDP that both the National Chairman and National Secretary must jointly sign notices for any convention, congress, conference, or meeting.
The planned NEC meeting, scheduled for June 30, was expected to address critical issues within the party, including the lingering leadership tussle over the office of National Secretary.
The PDP has been battling with internal crisis, especially since the conclusion of the 2023 general elections.
One of the major points of contention has been the leadership tussle over the National Secretary position between Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye.
Anyanwu, who left the position to contest the Imo State governorship election and lost, has since attempted to return to the office
In his absence, the Southeast Caucus of the party nominated Ude-Okoye to occupy the role.
