PDP Delegation Holds Closed-Door Talks with INEC

A high-level delegation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met privately with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday to seek clarity over the party’s unsettled national secretary position.

The meeting at INEC headquarters was led by Acting PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum and included Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Bala Mohammed, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Bauchi State. Also present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki; former governors Ahmad Makarfi (Kaduna) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Senator Abba Moro; and former PDP national secretary Senator Ben Obi, among other senior party figures.

Opening the session, Damagum thanked INEC for granting the audience and described the engagement as “both rare and important.” He noted that a previous National Executive Committee decision had required him to submit a letter to INEC “to avoid controversy,” and added that he welcomed the opportunity to confer “off camera” in order to establish a clear party position before the next official gathering.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu confirmed that the PDP had requested the meeting and reiterated the commission’s readiness to engage with all registered political parties. Prof. Yakubu expressed concern over “inconsistencies in the party’s communications,” pointing out that INEC had received multiple letters over recent months naming different individuals as national secretary.

“You may recall that not long ago we received similar visitors from the Labour Party. So when the PDP said it was going to visit, we welcomed them,” Prof. Yakubu said. He highlighted that for 99 previous National Executive Committee meetings, invitations to INEC had been properly signed by both party chairman and secretary. The 100th NEC invitation, however, bore only the chairman’s signature, contrary to INEC’s regulations.

Prof. Yakubu further detailed the sequence of conflicting letters: one naming Sunday Ude Okoye as secretary, another Samuel Anyanwu, then Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, before reverting to Anyanwu, and finally a letter unsigned by any secretary. “There are issues to discuss and we look forward to this important clarification from the party as to who is the secretary,” he said.

Both sides remained tight-lipped on any outcome following the closed session. The PDP delegation was expected to issue a formal statement in the coming days to resolve the matter ahead of the party’s next National Executive Committee meeting.