Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday held a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja as preparations intensify for the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.
The meeting, chaired by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was attended by representatives of several political parties, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Discussions centred on voter register revalidation, declining voter turnout, strengthening internal party democracy, and early preparations for the 2027 general election.
The meeting comes amid deepening divisions within the opposition PDP, which has been split into rival factions following disputes over its leadership.
Last month, a Federal High Court in Ibadan nullified the party’s national convention held in the Oyo State capital on November 15, 2025.
In his ruling, Justice Uche Agomoh refused a request by the Turaki-led faction to compel INEC to recognise the convention and barred the group from parading itself as the party’s leadership.
The court held that the convention was conducted in flagrant disregard of existing court orders, stressing that the PDP could not violate judicial directives and subsequently seek the court’s endorsement of such actions. It further ruled that the party must operate through a caretaker committee until a lawful national convention is conducted.
Reacting to the judgment, Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), criticised the verdict, arguing that the judge granted reliefs that were neither sought nor debated by the parties involved.
He disclosed that the faction had filed a notice of appeal alongside a motion for stay of execution, insisting that the convention remains “legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth” of the party.
The disputed convention had the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed but was preceded by conflicting court orders.
While some Federal High Courts in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged breaches of the party constitution and electoral laws, the Oyo State High Court cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the event.
At the convention, Wike and his allies were expelled from the party, prompting the group to establish a parallel National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC).
In December, INEC declined a request to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing multiple court judgments as the basis for its decision.
Observers say the leadership tussle within the PDP could shape political alignments ahead of future elections, even as INEC continues consultations with stakeholders to ensure credible polls in the FCT.
