The Independent National Electoral Commission, chaired by Joash Amupitan, held a consultative meeting on preparations for the February 21 FCT area council polls. Several political parties attended, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, supported by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The meeting focused on voter register revalidation, declining voter turnout, and strengthening internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Kabiru Turaki-led PDP national working committee was absent from the sit-down, reflecting the ongoing division within the party. Last month, a federal high court in Ibadan nullified the PDP national convention held in Oyo state on November 15, 2025. The presiding judge, Uche Agomoh, barred the Turaki-led NWC from claiming leadership, stating that PDP must operate through the caretaker committee until a lawful national convention is held.
Turaki, a senior advocate of Nigeria, criticised the ruling and filed a notice of appeal along with a motion for stay of execution, insisting that the convention remains legally intact. The convention had been supported by Oyo governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed and followed conflicting court decisions from federal high courts in Abuja and Ibadan.
The Wike-led faction, expelled from the party during the convention, later formed a parallel NWC, a board of trustees, and a national executive committee. INEC rejected the request to recognise the Turaki-led NWC in December, citing multiple court judgements.
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