Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the role played by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing leadership disagreement within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the electoral body of mishandling its involvement in the matter.
The governor expressed his concerns during a media briefing with selected journalists in Ibadan, where he addressed several political issues affecting the party and Nigeria’s broader democratic process.
Makinde’s remarks followed a recent development in which INEC invited representatives associated with different PDP leadership tendencies to its headquarters in Abuja for discussions aimed at addressing the crisis.
The electoral commission explained that its decision to convene the meeting was prompted by numerous correspondences received from the party and the need to clarify leadership issues ahead of upcoming elections.
Among the elections mentioned by INEC were the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls scheduled for February 21, 2026, as well as the governorship contests expected in Ekiti and Osun States later in the same year.
However, Makinde questioned the intention behind the engagement, claiming that the invitation created confusion among members of the party.
According to him, the meeting was presented as an opportunity for the commission to engage with the PDP leadership, but he believes the process did not unfold as expected.
The governor alleged that representatives of the party were misled during the interaction.
In his words, INEC invited both sides under the pretext of engaging the leadership of the PDP, a move he described as misleading to those who attended.
Makinde also maintained that the PDP does not have a divided leadership structure as suggested in some reports.
He insisted that the party has a clearly recognized leadership and that the notion of rival factions is inaccurate.
During the briefing, the governor also called on President Bola Tinubu to address what he described as external influences affecting the PDP’s internal affairs.
Makinde specifically mentioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging the president to intervene if necessary to ensure that democratic principles are respected.
The governor argued that the president, as the country’s leader, has the authority to guide members of his administration in ways that support democratic stability.
He further defended the legitimacy of the PDP’s recent national convention, which was held in Ibadan.
According to Makinde, the party followed all necessary legal procedures in organizing the event.
He noted that INEC had been formally notified of the convention ahead of time, in line with the legal requirements governing political party activities.
Makinde questioned why the electoral commission appeared hesitant to acknowledge the outcome of the convention.
Using a metaphor to express his frustration, he suggested that the commission was behaving like an ostrich hiding its head while ignoring the obvious reality.
The governor also observed that managing Nigeria’s electoral system is already a complex responsibility for INEC.
For that reason, he advised the commission to avoid actions that could further complicate the political environment.
Commentary and Analysis
The dispute between the PDP leadership and the electoral commission highlights the delicate role that regulatory institutions play in Nigeria’s political system.
INEC is expected to remain neutral while ensuring that political parties comply with legal requirements governing their internal processes.
However, disagreements often arise when parties interpret the commission’s actions as interference in internal matters.
Makinde’s criticism reflects the broader tensions within the PDP, where leadership disputes have drawn national attention and raised concerns about the party’s unity ahead of future elections.
As Nigeria prepares for several important electoral contests in the coming years, the relationship between political parties and the electoral commission will remain critical in maintaining confidence in the democratic process.
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