INEC rejects PDP NEC notification, cites irregular signature

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a notice submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding its planned 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30, 2025.

The rejected was conveyed in a letter dated June 13 and addressed to the party’s chairman, with reference number INEC/DEPM/PDP/286/iii/80 and titled “RE: NOTICE OF 100TH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY.”

The letter obtained on Tuesday, failed to comply with the Commission’s regulations.

Specifically, INEC cited Part 2(12)3 of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which requires that such notices be jointly signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

INEC, in the letter signed by acting Secretary, Mathru Aminu, advised the PDP to ensure proper compliance with its rules moving forward.

“The commission draws your attention that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 that provides ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission. Be guided,”the letter read.

The development came after the PDP, in a letter dated May 30, formally informed the electoral body of its intention to hold the landmark NEC meeting at its National Secretariat in Abuja.

The notice, signed solely by the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, was in accordance with INEC’s 21-day notification requirement for political meetings of such magnitude.

According to party insiders, the June 30 meeting is expected to address several longstanding internal issues, including the controversy surrounding the office of the National Secretary, ratification of recent zonal congresses, and review of key committee reports.

The PDP has been plagued by internal strife before and after the 2023 general elections. Disputes across zones, particularly in Rivers, the South-South, and South-East regions, along with disagreements over leadership roles, have continued to deepen tensions within the party. The North-Central zonal congress recently added to the party’s list of unresolved issues.

These challenges have led to repeated postponements of the NEC meeting six times in total stalling critical decisions and prompting defections of key figures such as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno to the ruling All Progressives Congress.