A delegation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, on Tuesday, June 24, visited the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to address key internal issues affecting the party.
The team was received by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, along with National Commissioners, senior aides, and top directors of the commission.
According to an official post by INEC on its X handle, the purpose of the visit was to directly engage the commission on matters requiring regulatory clarification, particularly those tied to internal party processes.
In his opening remarks, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission is always open to engagement with political parties.
“This meeting is at the instance of the party. They requested to interact with us and our doors are always open to meet with leaders of political parties in our capacity as the registrar and regulator of political parties in Nigeria,” Yakubu said.
He revealed that the confusion escalated after the party invited INEC to monitor its 100th NEC meeting through a letter signed only by the chairman, without the co-signature of the national secretary, a departure from long-standing practice.
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“I am glad that that meeting was the 100th meeting of the NEC of the party, meaning that 99 times in the past you fully complied by inviting us by means of a letter signed by chairman and secretary of the party,” Yakubu stated.
According to him, the commission has received multiple conflicting letters from the PDP naming different individuals as National Secretary.
“In the last couple of months, we received letters from the party saying that one Ude Okoye was the secretary. Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was sent to Samuel Anyanwu.
“Thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it is Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, and again the party changed its mind to say it is Anyanwu,” Yakubu said.
“And the last letter from the party actually has no secretary at all. It was only signed by the chairman, which we responded to.”
Yakubu concluded by stressing the commission’s desire to help resolve the matter quickly and in line with the law.