Warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday gave details of their separate engagements with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a peace meeting in Abuja. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the meeting was convened to seek solutions to the protracted crisis in the opposition party, which is currently split into two rival leadership camps.
Speaking after the meeting, PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, praised the INEC chairman for initiating dialogue, saying it showed the commission’s desire for the PDP to remain a strong opposition. “So they, INEC, are looking at the issues and options of how to bring peace for us,” he said, adding that internal grievances stem from “grief, aggression and ego of some people.”
On his part, Kabiru Turaki said his faction was invited by INEC to present its position on the crisis. He noted that although some matters are before the Court of Appeal, INEC assured them their submissions would be considered seriously. Defending INEC’s inclusion of all factions, he said, “Everybody will be heard by the elders… so nobody will say that elders came, they spoke to us, but I have not been given opportunity of a hearing.”