The warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have revealed details of their meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the meeting was a way of seeking solution to the lingering crisis rocking the party.
The PDP is currently run by two factions, the one led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who has held on to the party’s national secretary position, backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and the other side led by Kabiru Turaki and backed by the Governors of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Both sides spoke to the media after their meeting with the electoral umpire at the INEC national headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking, Anyanwu described the INEC boss, as a man who has been blessed by God with wisdom for calling the meeting, adding that the way they were addressed by the electoral umpire shows that INEC really want the PDP to continue to strive as the major opposition party in Nigeria.
“So they, INEC, are looking at the issues and options of how to bring peace for us. So we are yet to get a decision of NEC on the matter, but both sides spoke,” he said.
He also said both sides were able to punch up the loopholes where the problem is coming from, adding that “It has to do with grief, aggression and ego of some people. As a matter of fact, as a responsible party, we believe in the rule of law, the electoral guidelines and the NEC guidelines.
“Yes, we all, Nigerians know that PDP has a mechanism of managing internal crisis. And that is what we are doing now. And I can tell you, we will come out strong and stronger.”
Speaking, the national Chairman of the PDP from the Oyo convention, Turaki, said, “We were invited last night by the Commission to attend the meeting this morning.
“Now, when we received the invite, we thought that it was in respect of an earlier request. When we arrived this morning, however, we discovered that some former members of our party, who had earlier been expelled, were also invited.
“According to INEC, with a view to looking for possible solutions to what the Chairman described as lingering problems within the People’s Democratic Party. So, we have spoken with him from our own perspective. We’ve made a presentation of what we think the issues are.
“And we’ve spoken about those issues. And INEC had listened to us. And INEC had said, even though that there are matters that are before the Court of Appeal, and matters have not been heard, and INEC cannot take the place of a Court of competent jurisdiction, but that they will look into what we have said very seriously.”
Speaking on which the faction recognised by INEC, he said, “Where elders, for instance, sit down to settle a land dispute between brothers or between people who are laying different claims to that land, certainly elders will know that one of those people is a legitimate owner, and the other person may be claiming to be the owner.
“But at the end of the day, everybody will be heard by the elders. So that at the end of the day, nobody will say that elders came, they spoke to us, but I have not been given opportunity of a hearing.
“So I think what they have done, in the spirit of wanting to reconcile, I think it’s something that was proper. If you are inviting us, and then you are not inviting other people who are claiming to be what they are not, then probably it will be us talking to ourselves.
“And so I don’t see any difference in what you’re saying. I don’t see any problem with that. I don’t.”
