INEC Confirms Recognition of Nyesom Wike’s PDP Camp

In a significant development that could reshape the ongoing leadership crisis in Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has effectively recognized the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The recognition became evident on Thursday when INEC invited and allowed representatives of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee to participate in its first quarterly consultative meeting with registered political parties in Abuja for 2026. The meeting, which is part of preparations for the 2027 general elections, saw Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed and Acting National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu attending and representing the PDP.

This move comes on the heels of a recent Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan on January 30, 2026, which nullified the PDP’s National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15–16, 2025. That convention had produced the rival National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), backed by some PDP governors including Oyo State’s Seyi Makinde.

The court decision directed INEC to recognize the caretaker committee established by the Wike-aligned group on December 8, 2025. The 13-member caretaker committee, with a 60-day initial mandate, was set up following disagreements over the party’s leadership direction and convention processes.

Speaking exclusively after the INEC meeting, Senator Samuel Anyanwu confirmed the development, stating that the faction had been invited “as the recognised leadership of the PDP.” He described the invitation as a key step in participating in critical deliberations on party matters and electoral issues ahead of 2027.

Yes, we were invited yesterday as the recognised leadership of the PDP, and we are here to participate in this crucial consultative meeting between INEC and political parties,” Anyanwu said.

The Wike faction has hailed the development as a major victory for the rule of law and a resolution to the protracted internal crisis that has split the PDP into rival camps since late 2025. The group has already held a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, announced plans for a national convention (now scheduled for March 29–30, 2026, after a minor adjustment from earlier dates), and taken steps to dissolve certain zonal structures perceived as aligned with the opposing camp.

INEC had previously declined to recognize either faction outright while court cases were pending, maintaining neutrality amid multiple legal challenges. However, Thursday’s inclusion of the Wike-backed leaders in the high-profile stakeholders’ meeting — while the Turaki-led faction was notably absent — signals a shift in the electoral body’s practical stance, aligning with the subsisting court judgment.

The PDP has been grappling with deep divisions, with accusations flying between the two camps over issues of party control, convention legitimacy, and strategic direction. The crisis intensified after the expiration of the tenure of former Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum in December 2025, leading to competing claims to authority.

Analysts view INEC’s latest action as a potential turning point that strengthens the Wike camp’s position nationally, especially as the opposition party seeks to reposition itself for the 2027 polls. However, the Turaki-led group has indicated it may pursue further legal options, including appeals against the Ibadan court ruling.

As the PDP works toward reconciliation or consolidation under one leadership, today’s development at INEC headquarters underscores the critical role of judicial pronouncements and electoral commission engagement in resolving intra-party disputes in Nigeria’s democracy.

The full implications for party unity, candidate selections, and the broader opposition landscape will become clearer in the coming weeks as the recognized caretaker committee moves forward with its agenda