The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted on holding its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on June 30, 2025, despite the rejection of its notice by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The party described the rejection of its notification by the electoral body as an attempt to interfere in its internal affairs.

INEC had last week rejected a notification by the PDP because the letter of notification failed to comply with extant rules and guidelines.

The letter, signed by INEC’s acting National Secretary, Haliru Aminu, reads, “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 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.”

At a press conference addressed by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Sunday, the PDP explained that it merely sent a notification to INEC as a matter of courtesy, pointing out that it was not under any legal obligation to notify the electoral body.

The party explained that, according to its constitution and the electoral law, INEC is only required to be notified of conventions, congresses, or primaries involving the election of party officers or candidates.

“We did not state that the meeting was for electing officers, conducting primaries, or nominating candidates for elective positions. Yet, the Acting Secretary of INEC, Halilu Aminu, decided to unilaterally assign a purpose to our meeting,” Ologunagba stated.

He announced that the PDP’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will review progress on preparations for its forthcoming national convention, including updates from the Zoning and Convention Committees established at the 99th NEC meeting.

Ologunagba said, “At the 99th NEC meeting, it was unanimously agreed to schedule the next meeting for the 30th of June. The constitution of the Zoning Committee and the Convention Committee was approved. Consultations with various organs of the party and stakeholders are ongoing.”

The PDP spokesman also clarified that the party had complied with the 21-day notification rule and submitted its notice to INEC on May 13, which the commission acknowledged on the same day.

The PDP denied speculation that it would confirm the appointment of a new national secretary during the 100th NEC meeting, a reason INEC rejected the notification letter.

“How can INEC on its own import a purpose for a meeting to satisfy some vested interests? For the record, there have been several instances where we have issued 21-day notices for congresses or other meetings that require notification to INEC, and we have received calls at some point to even adjust those dates.

“So, how would this acting secretary of INEC decide on his own to create and become a member of a political party and create for us an agenda that was not conveyed in the letter of the Acting National Chairman?” He queried.

“And so the challenge for us now as a party is to say, who is the acting secretary of INEC? Who is he working for? What is the objective? Why is he creating an agenda for our party for a regular statutory meeting that is routine?” He asked.

The party urged INEC to be mindful of actions like this that can raise issues that will affect our democracy and erode the confidence that international partners have in it. (The Guardian)