INEC officials storm PDP Convention in Abuja

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present on Sunday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commenced its national convention at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

This was disclosed by Mr Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The convention, organised by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Working Committee, began with the arrival of delegates at the velodrome of the stadium, where accreditation and security screening were ongoing.

Party members, dressed in PDP-branded attire, were seen trooping into the venue amid tight security, while key stakeholders, including Wike, were also in attendance.

In a statement posted on his X handle, Olayinka listed top INEC officials present at the event, including National Commissioners Prof. Sani Adams (SAN) and Dr Ken Ukeagu.

He also named other senior officials such as Director of Election and Party Monitoring, Joan Arabs; Director of Legal Services, Rakiya Nauzo; and Director of Drafting and Clearance, Nkechi Abuh, among others.

The convention, scheduled to run from Sunday to Monday, is expected to produce members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who will pilot the affairs of the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The exercise is, however, taking place amid internal wrangling within the party and ongoing legal disputes over a parallel convention held by a faction of PDP governors in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.

Despite the tensions, the caretaker committee maintained that there is no court order stopping the convention.

The committee’s spokesperson, Jungudo Mohammed, said all legal and procedural requirements had been met, assuring members of a credible and transparent process.

“The National Caretaker Working Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure that this convention is credible, transparent and inclusive,” he said.

He also called for calm among party members, noting that reconciliation efforts would continue even after the convention.

“The PDP remains a law-abiding institution committed to strengthening democracy. We will not allow the progress and stability of the party to be undermined,” Mohammed added.

The PDP Constitution (2017, as amended) provides for a 19-member National Working Committee, including the National Chairman, National Secretary, Treasurer, Organising Secretary, Publicity Secretary, and other key officers.