…Commission warns notice violates 2022 guidelines
…Crisis deepens as Damagum signs without Secretary
…Six NEC postponements stall major party decisions

By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti

Hopes that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can pull itself out of political stagnation have been further dampened, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised objections to the party’s notice regarding its planned 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for 30 June 2025.

The commission’s concerns were outlined in a letter dated 13 June, addressed to the PDP’s national chairman and bearing reference number INEC/DEPM/PDP/286/iii/80. The letter, titled “RE: NOTICE OF 100TH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY,” stated that the notice submitted was not in line with electoral regulations.

Specifically, INEC cited Part 2(12)3 of its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which mandates that notices for such meetings must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

In the letter, signed by the acting Secretary of the commission, Mathru Aminu, INEC advised the PDP to ensure future compliance with its stipulated procedures.

“The Commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which provides that ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission.’ Be guided,” the letter stated.

This setback follows the PDP’s letter to INEC dated 30 May, which officially informed the commission of its intention to convene the landmark NEC meeting at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

However, the notification was signed solely by the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and though it adhered to INEC’s 21-day advance notice requirement, the lack of a co-signature from the National Secretary rendered it procedurally deficient.

According to party insiders, the upcoming 30 June meeting is expected to address a number of critical internal matters, including disputes surrounding the office of the National Secretary, ratification of recent zonal congress outcomes, and deliberation on key committee reports.

The PDP has been grappling with internal discord both before and after the 2023 general elections. Disputes within various zones, notably Rivers, the South-South, and South-East regions, alongside wrangling over leadership roles, have continued to inflame factional divides within the party. The recent North-Central zonal congress only added to the list of unresolved grievances.

These ongoing tensions have led to the NEC meeting being postponed six times, repeatedly stalling vital decisions and prompting high-profile defections. Notably, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno have recently crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The situation has left the party struggling to maintain internal cohesion, with the latest INEC letter serving as yet another hurdle in its effort to regain political traction.