The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has called on political parties in the country to address their internal disputes within the bounds of the law and desist from attempting to influence or blame the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during elections.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike said many of the crises rocking political parties stem from a disregard for established legal procedures.
He warned that internal disagreements cannot supersede the laws regulating party activities, including congresses and conventions.
The minister cited past conflicts within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), noting that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had clearly ruled that breaches of due process cannot be justified as internal party matters.
He said issues such as delegate selection and the conduct of congresses must strictly comply with legal requirements.
He stressed that previous court rulings invalidated certain party decisions due to procedural violations, including the participation of unauthorised delegates and the failure of some states to properly conduct congresses.
He also addressed ongoing disputes within other political parties, criticising attempts to drag INEC into factional conflicts, adding that the electoral commission operates strictly within legal provisions and should not be subjected to pressure or blackmail.
He noted that INEC’s actions are guided by court judgments and statutory regulations rather than political considerations.
He gave an instance where the commission declined to recognise a faction despite a court ruling, choosing instead to allow all legal processes to be fully concluded to avoid allegations of bias.
He therefore urged parties to take responsibility for maintaining order within their ranks, warning that unresolved internal crises could weaken their chances in future elections.
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