Wike-Backed PDP Caretaker Committee Attends INEC Meeting

The Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee on Tuesday attended a crucial meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a development seen as a significant step in the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.

The committee’s presence at the INEC meeting followed a recent court ruling that has deepened divisions within the PDP over the party’s legitimate leadership structure. The attendance is widely interpreted as a signal of growing institutional recognition for the caretaker committee amid competing claims to authority within the party.

Sources at the meeting confirmed that representatives of the caretaker committee engaged with INEC officials on issues relating to party administration, compliance with electoral guidelines, and preparations for upcoming political activities. The meeting also provided an opportunity for INEC to reiterate its position on adherence to court judgments and internal party democracy.

The PDP has been engulfed in a prolonged crisis stemming from factional disputes, court cases, and disagreements over the composition and legitimacy of its national leadership. The crisis has pitted camps loyal to different power blocs within the party against one another, raising concerns about the PDP’s cohesion ahead of future elections.

Supporters of the Wike-backed caretaker committee argue that the latest court ruling and the INEC engagement strengthen their claim to steer the party toward stability. However, rival factions maintain that the dispute is far from resolved and insist that due process must be followed to restore unity.

INEC has not publicly endorsed any faction but has consistently stated that it will relate only with party officials recognised in line with the law and valid court orders.

Political analysts say the caretaker committee’s attendance at the INEC meeting could reshape the balance of power within the PDP and influence negotiations aimed at resolving the leadership impasse.