INEC Rejects Planned PDP NEC Meeting, Cites Absence Of Signature

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

The commission cited the party’s failure to comply with its guidelines for political parties.

In a letter addressed to the PDP’s national chairman, dated June 13 and signed by the acting secretary to the Commission, Haliru Aminu, INEC drew the party’s attention to a breach of its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

Specifically, INEC referenced Part 2(12)3 of the guidelines, which stipulates that “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.”

INEC noted that the PDP’s letter, dated May 30 and signed solely by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, did not meet this requirement.

INEC said, “Notice of 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Your letter on the above subject refers.

“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 PDP had earlier sent the notice to INEC, informing the electoral body of its intention to hold its 100th NEC meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The letter, referenced PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1J/25-078, was received by INEC on the same day it was dated, May 30.

The notification, which complies with INEC’s 21-day rule ahead of any NEC meeting where sensitive decisions are to be made, was expected to set the stage for resolving several pending issues within the party, including the lingering crisis over the national secretary position between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye.