The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the notice submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its upcoming 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting as procedurally defective, citing non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
In a formal response dated June 13, INEC informed the PDP that the notification for the meeting scheduled for June 30 at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja failed to meet the statutory requirements outlined in Part 2(12)3 of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
While the original notice, sent on May 30, was signed by the party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, INEC noted that the absence of the national secretary’s co-signature rendered the document invalid.
“Kindly note that the notice is not duly signed as required. The commission shall not recognize any notice that does not comply with the provision,” INEC stated.
At the heart of the issue lies the PDP’s unresolved internal rift over the rightful occupant of the office of National Secretary a battle that has lingered for over a year.
The conflict emerged after the party’s South-East zonal caucus nominated Sunday Udeh-Okoye to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who contested the Imo State governorship election in 2023. Although Anyanwu had obtained multiple court orders to maintain his position, a Court of Appeal ruling on December 20, 2024, affirmed Udeh-Okoye’s nomination and dismissed the earlier decision of the High Court.
However, the PDP national secretariat has yet to officially resolve or implement the court ruling, leaving the office of National Secretary in limbo and without a recognized co-signer for critical party documents such as the NEC meeting notice.
The now-contested NEC meeting was expected to be a landmark session, with an agenda that reportedly includes: Resolving the national secretary leadership tussle, Ratifying outcomes of recent zonal congresses, Finalizing plans for the party’s national convention in August
However, without a valid notice, the meeting faces the risk of being postponed a scenario that may further destabilize the party and worsen existing factional divides ahead of 2027 general elections.
Party insiders say a new notice may still be filed, provided both the chairman and a court-recognized secretary sign it in time. But there’s little consensus within the party’s ranks on how to proceed.
Legal analysts suggest the PDP could either pursue a court injunction compelling INEC to accept the initial notice or opt for a neutral compromise, such as authorizing the deputy national secretary to co-sign.
A senior PDP chieftain who spoke anonymously said, “This is not just about signatures. It’s a leadership test. How the party resolves this will shape our cohesion going forward.”
INEC’s firm stance underscores the importance of due process in party administration, especially at a time when political actors are gearing up for a high-stakes electoral cycle.
With just 12 days to the proposed NEC meeting, all eyes are now on Wadata Plaza, the PDP headquarters, to see whether the party can forge unity or if internal discord will once again derail its efforts at national coordination.
