The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has stepped into the internal crisis of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), with a view of bringing the lingering rifts to an end.
Spark News Naija reports that the Commission invited the leadership of the Party’s warring factions to its national headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Members of the press were shot out as the meeting went into closed doors after the INEC chairman’s opening remarks.
In his remarks, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, highlighted the importance of the meeting, which he said was to resolve the Party’s internal wrangling following conflicting correspondences received from the different factions groups.
“We have decided to invite all the parties, especially the fact that we have received conflicting correspondences from the People’s Democratic Party and we felt that by rubbing minds together, it will be a good opportunity for us to forge the way forward concerning the elections.
“And I’m happy that this morning, very top officials are present here so that we can discuss as a family and see how the issues can be resolved and we move forward. We are guided by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Acts, and the regulations that have been made by INEC,” Prof. Amupitan stated.
However, after about 3 hours of the closed door meeting , top officials of both factions came out of the Commission’s conference room to address the press.
When asked what is the takeaway from the meeting, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the factional National Secretary of PDP said, “I must say, we have a man who has been blessed by God with wisdom, and the Commissioners. The way they spoke to us shows that they really want this Party to continue to strive as the major opposition party in Nigeria.”
Anyanwu stated that members of the Party are ready and prepared to embrace peace, saying “we are looking at the issues and options of how to bring peace for us.”
Addressing the press on behalf of the other faction, the new national chairman of the Party, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said, “We have spoken with him (INEC chairman) from our own perspective. We’ve made a presentation of what we think the issues are.”
Speaking further, he said, “When we received the invite, we thought that it was in respect of an earlier request made by us to meet with INEC leadership and discuss and resolve some issues.
“When we arrived this morning, however, we discovered that some former members of our party, who had earlier been expelled were also invited.
“I think what they have done is in the spirit of wanting to reconcile us. I think it’s something that was proper. If you are inviting us, and then you are not inviting other people who are claiming to be what they are not, then probably it will be us talking to ourselves.
“So I’m sure they will also sit down and look at the submissions that we particularly have made. And then I’m sure when they are ready to come back to us either by a similar invitation or probably by way of a correspondence.
He assured Nigerians and members of the public that PDP will continue to work as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.