By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan at his office in the Maitama area of Abuja.
The meeting was attended by members of the party’s NWC, alongside some state PDP chairmen aligned with the party leadership. Sources told Trust Africa News that the discussions focused on internal party matters and issues of national interest.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, a PDP leader, Tanimu Turaki, said the delegation briefed the former president on the party’s prospects amid ongoing legal battles. He disclosed that Jonathan pledged continued support for the party, noting that the PDP had played a significant role in his political career.
According to Turaki, Jonathan said the PDP had “done enough for him,” adding that he would “do his best to give more support to the party.”
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, with two factions laying claim to the position of national chairman. Abdulrahman Mohammed is backed by a camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while Turaki is supported by factions aligned with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Amid growing concerns over the dispute, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, convened a meeting on December 19, 2025, with leaders of both PDP factions. The engagement, held at INEC headquarters in Abuja, was initiated ahead of the Federal Capital Territory area council elections, as well as the Osun and Ekiti state elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The meeting was attended by members of the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC and the faction led by Samuel Anyanwu. Amupitan said INEC’s intervention followed a series of conflicting correspondences received from the party, which he noted could undermine electoral preparations.
He explained that the engagement was also linked to preparations for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections slated for June and July 2026. According to him, although INEC had already issued election timetables and guidelines to all registered political parties, the PDP’s internal disagreements made it necessary to bring the contending factions together to seek clarity.
The INEC chairman expressed satisfaction with the participation of senior officials from both camps, describing the meeting as an opportunity for open and constructive dialogue aimed at resolving the leadership crisis in the interest of the party and the broader electoral process.
Amupitan further assured the PDP factions of the Commission’s neutrality, stressing that INEC’s actions were guided strictly by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Commission’s regulations and guidelines. He urged the parties to engage constructively, after which deliberations continued behind closed doors.
