PDP Stakeholders Fault INEC Over Leadership Portal Listings
…As Ewenla calls for transparency amid lingering legal and constitutional questions
Concerns have continued to mount among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and political observers over the continued appearance of the names of Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal amid the lingering leadership dispute within the party.
The concerns were contained in a statement issued by Prince Amb. (Dr.) Adedipe Dauda Ewenla, PDP Southwest Ex-Officio, who called on INEC to uphold transparency, consistency, and strict adherence to the rule of law in order to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy.
The controversy follows public discussions surrounding the Supreme Court judgment and the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling relating to the PDP leadership crisis.
Reports indicate that INEC updated its portal after the March 2026 PDP convention to reflect a National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, alongside other party officials.
The development has sparked constitutional, legal, and political debates, particularly among stakeholders who argue that the implications of the Supreme Court judgment and the published CTC should have influenced the Commission’s decision differently.
Several party faithful and concerned Nigerians have questioned why the names remain on the portal despite claims that court pronouncements and internal party decisions may have affected the legitimacy of the officials occupying the positions.
Observers have also drawn comparisons with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership dispute, where INEC reportedly removed party executives from its portal pending legal clarification before subsequently updating the records after a Supreme Court ruling.
Stakeholders are now asking why a similar standard has not been applied in the PDP case, with some expressing concerns over the consistency and neutrality of the electoral body.
The development has further fueled public debate regarding the independence of INEC, as some Nigerians question whether political considerations may be influencing the Commission’s actions.
Political analysts insist that, as the nation’s electoral umpire, INEC must maintain transparency, impartiality, and consistency in handling disputes involving political parties in order to sustain public confidence in the democratic process.
Attention has also been drawn to the role of the INEC Chairman, Amupintan, who has been described by stakeholders as a respected public servant and a leader associated with the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
According to critics, the ethical and moral expectations attached to both public office and religious leadership require that the Commission’s actions reflect fairness, accountability, integrity, and justice.
Some PDP members have argued that if legal or constitutional issues surrounding the party’s leadership structure remain unresolved, it would be more appropriate for the PDP section of the INEC portal to remain under review pending final clarification.
They maintained that Nigerians deserve clear explanations regarding the legal basis for the names currently appearing on the Commission’s portal.
