INEC recognises Wike-backed PDP faction

The Independent National Electoral Commission has tacitly recognised the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The recognition was inferred from the presence of Mohammed and the party’s Acting National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, at the first quarterly meeting between the commission and leaders of political parties.

The engagement is reserved strictly for national chairmen and national secretaries of all registered political parties officially recognised by INEC.

Their participation at the meeting is seen as an indication that the electoral body is acting in line with a recent court directive concerning the leadership of the opposition party.

The development follows a ruling by the Federal High Court, which ordered INEC to recognise the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee as the legitimate leadership of the PDP.

The court decision arose from the prolonged leadership crisis within the party, which has resulted in multiple factions laying claim to its national structure.

INEC has repeatedly stated that it would be guided by valid court orders in determining which faction of any political party it formally engages with on official matters. The appearance of Mohammed and Anyanwu at the commission’s high-level meeting therefore signals a shift in official recognition, pending any further judicial pronouncements on the matter.