The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

PDP’s leadership crisis and unravelling of Nigeria’s opposition

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a leadership crisis, legal battles, and internal divisions that have left it struggling to survive ahead of 2027. The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nyesom Wike-led faction is a move that could worsen the party’s divisions and weaken democratic accountability, writes DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR RAYMOND MORDI.

The once-dominant People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which ruled Nigeria for 16 consecutive years, now finds itself locked in a fight not merely for political relevance, but for its very survival. A party that once bestrode the country’s political landscape like a colossus is today consumed by internal warfare so intense that it threatens to erase its status as a national opposition force.

What began as a seemingly routine leadership tussle over the National Secretary position has grown into a full-blown existential crisis, fracturing the party along bitter personal, factional, and regional lines.

In the main, it is a power struggle between the group led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and a rival group supported by Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed. Other key figures include Adolphus Wabara, who serves as the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT); former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Turaki). The real issue is not just about party positions in Abuja, but about who will shape the future of what was once Africa’s largest political party.

Many observers say that INEC’s decision to recognise the Wike-aligned caretaker committee has not eased tensions. Instead, it has made divisions worse and set the stage for a long legal and political battle. Now, there is even doubt about whether the PDP will be able to field candidates in the 2027 general election—a question that would have seemed unthinkable ten years ago.

This legal and political crisis is part of a wider trend in Nigeria, where courts are now deciding party matters that used to be settled internally. As the 2027 elections approach, the collapse of the main opposition party could push Nigeria toward one-party dominance, weakening the checks and balances essential to democracy. Personal ambition, legal tactics, weak institutions, and the ruling party’s influence are all contributing to the PDP’s decline.

Crisis forged in court

INEC’s decision to recognise the Wike-aligned caretaker committee came after a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that overturned actions by the PDP’s previous leadership. This cleared the way for an interim leadership favoured by the Wike group. Officially, INEC said it was following a court order, but many in the party see it as a move that shifts the balance of power.

Instead of resolving the ongoing fight for control of the PDP, the recognition has increased mistrust and encouraged one faction to act as if it has already won. “This recognition does not solve anything,” said a senior PDP official involved in the legal battles. “It simply empowers one side to behave as if the conflict has ended. But the other side does not accept defeat, and that is what makes this moment extremely dangerous.”

Soon after INEC’s decision, the Wike-aligned group quickly took steps to strengthen its control. They dissolved zonal structures and changed convention dates to March 29 and 30. They also met with INEC officials, though the rival faction claims these meetings are illegal because appeals are still pending in higher courts. Opponents see these actions as an attempt to make changes permanent before the courts can rule.

The opposing group has strongly criticised INEC’s recognition. The Turaki-led faction says the decision is not neutral but evidence that the electoral body is siding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the opposition.

PDP staff unions and the People’s Democratic Institute have also declared their support for the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), calling the Ibadan court ruling controversial and inconsistent.

READ ALSO: PDP: Wike gets upper hand again

Former Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, articulates a view widely shared within this camp. “Given the level of degradation that has unfortunately befallen the judiciary in this country,” he argues, “it is safe to say that judgments arising from issues about the PDP would be influenced by the APC-led government in power. The idea of recognising the Wike-led faction is simply to satisfy the ruling party by further destabilising the PDP.”

Dr Eddy Olafeso, former PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), highlights problems with the Ibadan judgment. “The judge said he would not grant mandamus,” Olafeso says, “yet he went ahead and granted reliefs that were not even sought. INEC, which was supposed to be a neutral umpire, has now joined the fray.” For these stakeholders, INEC’s action is not a solution but an escalation, trapping the party in ongoing legal battles that could last until the 2027 elections.

Judiciary’s pervasive role

The PDP’s situation reflects a wider trend in the country, where judges and court orders now shape political parties more than internal agreements. Courts, once a last resort for tough disputes, are now the first choice for unhappy factions. This continues even though Section 84(14) of the 2022 Electoral Act was meant to limit court involvement to candidate nominations, not leadership issues.

This legal overreach has serious effects. Parties like the PDP and Labour Party (LP) are stuck in ongoing court cases over leadership. These disputes use up money, create uncertainty, and weaken public trust in political institutions. A senior constitutional lawyer says these problems often happen because internal party democracy has broken down, so factions turn to the courts as their “last hope.”

For governors, lawmakers, and other politicians, the risks are clear. A court could overturn party leadership just before primaries, making it too risky to stay. This legal uncertainty encourages defections, as politicians look for stability and support from the ruling party. In this way, the courts have unintentionally sped up political realignment.

Will the PDP field candidates in 2027?

Amid this turmoil, the main question for the PDP is whether it can organise itself well enough to field a united slate of candidates in 2027. This is becoming less certain. Some constitutional lawyers warn that the PDP could face the same fate as the APC in Zamfara State in 2019, when internal disputes kept the party off the ballot.

“If there is no clear, legally recognised leadership by the time primaries are conducted,” an Abuja-based senior lawyer cautions, “the consequences could be catastrophic.”

Two parallel and deeply troubling scenarios now loom.

The first risk is fragmentation. If legal battles continue, INEC may face several competing lists of candidates from different PDP factions. This could lead to disqualifications, court-ordered changes, and more lawsuits after the election, hurting the party’s chances. This has already happened in Ekiti State, where INEC removed the PDP’s governorship candidate because of internal disputes.

The second risk is that the Wike-aligned faction, now recognized by INEC, could take over party structures nationwide, hold primaries, and present its own candidates as the real PDP representatives. Critics say the goal may not be to win the presidency, but to keep the party too weak and divided to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.

Dr Olafeso frames this view bluntly. “Governor Makinde told the whole nation that Wike promised to hold the PDP down for President Tinubu in 2027,” he says. “From what is happening today, is he not holding the party down for the APC?”

In this case, the PDP would still exist but act as a weak opposition, putting forward less competitive candidates and focusing on a few local wins instead of aiming for national success.

Governors under pressure: who stays, who goes?

The PDP now controls only four states: Oyo, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Zamfara. Even before the current crisis, the party lost many members. Five PDP governors joined the APC last year, and another moved to the Accord Party, blaming internal problems and leadership uncertainty. As a result, the APC now controls 30 out of 36 states.

Given this situation, the choices of the four remaining PDP governors are very important. What they decide will show early on whether the party can continue as a national force.

Seyi Makinde

Faction: Turaki/Makinde-led group.

Likely 2027 Path: High risk of defection to the ADC.

Makinde is the most prominent governor opposing Wike and a key member of the dissatisfied group. His position in a Wike-led PDP seems impossible to maintain. He has built his political reputation on resisting the current leadership. As a southern progressive with national goals, he may join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but could also consider the APC if needed for his political future.

Bala Mohammed

Faction: Turaki/Makinde-led group.

Likely 2027 Path: High risk of defection to APC.

In the Northeast, where federal influence is strong, Governor Mohammed may decide to join the ruling party, especially if the PDP in Bauchi State comes under the control of his opponents.

Ahmadu Fintiri

Faction: Historically independent.

Likely 2027 Path: Remain PDP or defect to APC.

Fintiri is known for switching sides and may try to stay neutral for now. In the end, he will likely choose the option that gives him the best chance of re-election, even if that means joining the APC.

Dauda Lawal

Faction: Unclear.

Likely 2027 Path: Remain PDP or defect to APC.

Lawal governs a troubled Northwest state facing security challenges and is under pressure to maintain good relations with the Federal Government. This need for stability may be more important to him than loyalty to any faction.

In all these cases, ideology matters little. As a former PDP leader in Enugu says, defections are “about staying relevant, not about ideology or what the people actually want.”

The democratic deficit

If the PDP collapses, it is not just an internal party issue—it is a real threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Since 2015, the PDP has been the only opposition party with a national presence. Its fall would unbalance the political system.

Analysts warn that Nigeria may be moving from a democracy decided by voters to one decided by the courts, where legal details matter more than the people’s choice. “Governance should be determined by the electorate, not the courts,” the senior lawyer cautions.

At the local level, the effects are clear. A former PDP youth leader notes that most Nigerians are not focused on party infighting. “People talk about hunger, school fees, and insecurity,” he says. “While elites fight over party structures, real issues are neglected.”

Flicker of hope or end of the road?

Is there still hope for the PDP? Reconciliation is possible in theory, but it becomes less likely with every new court decision and heated statement. It would take major compromises, probably led by respected elder statesmen. However, leaders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who once brought order, are not involved.

If there is no intervention, the likely outcome is a split. The Turaki/Makinde group could leave for parties such as the ADC or the NNPP, causing a major shake-up. This might create a smaller but more united opposition, but it could also mean losing the 2027 election to the APC.

Right now, Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s national headquarters, is a symbol of the party’s deadlock. Police sealed it during the crisis, showing how contested the party’s space has become. Whether the PDP recovers or fades away will affect not only the 2027 election but also the future of Nigeria’s democracy. The stakes are very high.

February 8, 2026
PDP factions square up over reopening of national secretariat
- Sealed building to be reopened Monday, says Anyanwu •Turaki group warns police against giving pro-Wike faction access
The two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) launched into a fresh face-off yesterday after the pro-Wike group announced its plan to reopen the Wadata Plaza national secretariat in Abuja for business on Monday.

The announcement did not go down well with the Tanimu Turaki-led faction which warned that any such move would amount to self-help, and declared that “responsibility for any injury to persons or damage to property arising therefrom should be placed solely on the aggressors and their security collaborators.”

The building was sealed by the police on November 19, 2025 following a clash between the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and that of the factional acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed.

It has since remained out of bounds to both sides.

However, the Wike faction said at the end of Thursday’s meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) and leaders of political parties that it was preparing to resume operations at the building on Monday.

The faction’s admission into the meeting was based on a recent court interim injunction.

Asked why the party leaders had not possessed the Wadata Plaza, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the acting National Secretary, said the building was locked, following a clash between the two groups in the party.

“We wrote to the police. Remember that the police sealed the place and then the other group went to court to ask the police to open it.

“The matter was dismissed because they have no locus. So by Monday, we are taking over the office,” he said.

Anyanwu claimed that there are no factions in PDP and that the party remains under the leadership of Mohammed, the reason they attended INEC meeting with other political parties.

His words: “Yes, we had issues, court issues, and last week Friday, as a matter of fact, the Federal High Court in Ibadan made it very clear that the problem of PDP is over because the so-called convention of November 15 and 16, 2025 is a nullity.

“No other person should parade himself or herself as a member of the NWC of the PDP.

“The body that has the full powers to speak for the party and administer the party is the National Caretaker Committee, led by Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammad,” he said.

Anyanwu said that members are now happy that normalcy has returned to the party.

For those who were afraid that PDP would not have candidates in the forthcoming elections, he said it was now settled that the party would field candidates for all positions.

“So we’re happy; people are happy that normalcy has come to the party now.

“You can see something different because you have old hands who have been in this party, who have been managers of this party for a long time, for the last 25 years.

“We are still involved. So, we are going to fast-track everything,” he said.

On the forthcoming FCT area council elections, Anyanwu said that interim caretaker committee would work for the victory of the party in the exercise.

“We are going to hit the ground running with our campaign until the February 18, the last day for campaign,” Anyanwu said.

Read Also: INEC can’t choose leadership for PDP – Turaki

The faction said the decision of INEC to recognise the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee would help restore stability and constitutional governance within the party.

National Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said in a statement that the decision of the commission to respect lawful court order was commendable.

“By affirming a lawful leadership structure following the Federal High Court judgement, INEC has helped to remove uncertainties capable of undermining the party’s organisational processes and electoral readiness,” Mohammed said.

He added: “This development should serve as a rallying point for all loyal party faithful. The time has come to set aside differences, embrace reconciliation, and channel our collective energy towards strengthening the PDP ahead of 2027 Elections.

“Nigerians look to our party for responsible leadership and a credible alternative, and we must not allow internal disputes to distract us from this historic responsibility.

“We therefore urge stakeholders across all levels of the party to support the recognized leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed as it works towards organising a successful convention, restoring cohesion, and laying the groundwork for the emergence of competent candidates who will carry the banner of the PDP to victory in the next electoral cycle.”

The Nation gathered that the Wike group also plans to conduct a thorough screening of party staff with a view to weeding out the ‘compromised.’

“A screening and likely replacement of such persons are being considered,” a source said.

National Publicity Secretary of the Wike group, Hon. Jungydo Haruna Mohammed, said plan by the Turaki faction to approach the court would not hinder ongoing plans to reposition PDP and hold a more acceptable national convention.

“The Kabiru Turaki group actually plans to go on appeal as we heard, but they will never succeed; fact is fact and law is law. Nothing can change that.

“But we appeal to them to reconsider their position in the overall interest of the party,” he said

“We are putting in place all necessary machinery and arrangements toward the conduct of an acceptable National Convention; we will ensure that all state congresses are conducted where necessary in accordance with the judgement of Justice Omotosho, and we shall also ensure that PDP does not suffer in the conduct of any off cycle election.”

The group, invoking Article 29(2)(b) of the PDP Constitution, has constituted Caretaker Committees for the various states, including Zamfara, Oyo, Bauchi and Yobe states where the governors and former National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum, remain opposed to Wike loyalists ahead of its planned National Convention next month.

Those appointed for Plateau State are Dr. Gideon Nandem Tyem (Chairman), Hon Plangnan Gorip, Alh (Dr.) Samaila A.A. Rukuba, Hon. Rangdat Moeshep, Hon. Francis David Pam, Alh. Adullahi Useni, Hon. Clara Adidi, Alh. Ishap Umar, Anthony M. Bukum, Hon Silas Lukawan, Hon. Mrs Lubabatu Mohammed, Hajiya Mariam Aliyu and Hon. Goje A. Hirfo (Secretary).

Those appointed for Zamfara State are: Hon. Zilkikar Auwal Tambaya (Chairman), Hon. Salisu Usman Zurmi, Hon. Abubakar Adullahi Anka, Hon. Ashiru Muh’d Dan Ango, Hon. Mustafa Ahmad, Hon. Surajo Adamu Tsafe, Hon. Mati Rabo Shinkafi, Hon. Imrana M. Hassan T/Mafara, Hon. Adullahi Abubakar, Hon. Adullahi Salmanu, Hon. Maryam Lawal, Hon. Ibrahim Mande Sai’, Hon Aliyu Sani, Hon. Kabiru Aliyu Bakura, Barr. Babaginda Garba, Prof. Ubaidu Mani, Hon. Saadatu Kasimu and Hon. Rabiu Mani Shinkafi (Secretary).

Members of the new Caretaker Committee for Kano State are: Dr. Bello Gambo Bichi (Chairma), Engr Auwal Sale Yau, Hon. Ali Mati Shantake, Engr. Sagir Abdulkadir Dambatta, Dr. Hafsat Abubakar, Malam Yahuza Mahraz, Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim Muhammad, Abubakar Lamido, Haj. Fatima Ahmed Baffa, Hon. Mukhtari Dansarai, Haj. Naja’ atu Sharada, Hon. Hussaini Ahmad Rahama, Alh. Gambo Adullahi Doguwa, Haj. Rashida Yakubu Khalid, Alh. Sabo Ajingi, Adamu Adullahi Nalange and Hon. Rabiu Sale Wangal (Secretary).

For Yobe State, the Caretaker Committee members are: Hon Yusuf Adullahi Mallushe (Chairman), Hon Halilu Abubakar Mazangane, Ali Mohammed, Zamma Modu, Abdulraham Zabairu, Mohammed lawan Aapchi, Abubakar Inuwa, Ali Adamu lyam, Haruna Garba Goje, Tela Jaji Maajl, Hauwa Mohammed Damaraturu, Alhaji Bulama Balle, Mall Aahiru Gulani, Hajja Bukar Abdul, Sale Ibrahim, Hassan Abdullahi Tela and Mairambe Alhaji Modu (Secretary).

Earlier on January 15, the National Caretaker Committee had constituted state Caretaker Committees Delta, Rivers, Enugu, Imo, and Osun states while a state Caretaker Committee led by Professor Abdulrahman Akinoso (Chairman) and Dr Biola Olanipekun (Secretary) had been put in charge of Oyo state PDP since December, 2025 despite Governor Seyi Makinde’s intense displeasure.

According to party sources, two PDP governors – one each in the North and South may have concluded plans to insert their loyalists into the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in their respective states as a sort of Plan B, in case they eventually lose remaining legal battles to loyalists of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Turaki’s faction warn police against allowing Wike group access to secretariat

In a swift response, the Tanimu Turaki led NWC asked the police to not succumb to the entreaties of the other faction.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Ini Ememobong said in a statement that the secretariat is a subject of litigation instituted by the Wike backed group at the Federal High Court,Abuja and the Court of Appeal.

He said: “Any attempt to enter and occupy these property will be a resort to self-help and an affront to the time-tested principle of law that parties who have submitted to the jurisdiction of courts should not act in ways that will render nugatory, the powers of the Court.”

Continuing, Ememobong said: “”In this particular instance, the case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members, they cannot resort to self-help, until judgment is delivered in the matter.

“This statement serves to remind all the dramatis personae, especially the Police Force, which is a party on record in the said matter, that any action taken to grant access to anybody, pending the determination of the suit, is a contempt of the court.

“We assure that we will deploy all legal means to defend our property from trespass. Responsibility for any injury to persons or damage to property arising therefrom should be placed solely on the aggressors and their security collaborators.”

The Taminu Turaki-led NWC had on Thursday said INEC could not choose a leadership for the party.

It faulted the commission’s decision to invite “some former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee, to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.”

It added: “This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response.

“Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, but it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal.

“This include the judgment which they are relying upon, which, when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration; and exercised restraint, therefrom.

“We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party,” Ememobong said.

He urged all PDP members to remain calm and hopeful that soonest, the Court of Appeal would hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of the party.

“We assure that the rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Tanimu Turaki, SAN, is steady and secure.

“It will ultimately surmount all these challenges, to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians, as a credible alternative to the ruling party,” he said.
February 7, 2026
BREAKING: INEC recognises Wike-backed PDP faction

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tacitly recognised the FCT Minister, Nyelsom Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The duo of Mohammed and the Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu are part of party leaders attending the first quarterly meeting between the commission and political party leaders.

The meeting is meant for only national chairmen and National Secretaries of all registered parties recognised by the Commission.

Read Also: INEC to revalidate voter register before 2027 polls

The Federal High Court in Ibadan had directed the commission to recognise the Abdulrahman Mohammed led caretaker Committee as the genuine leadership of the party.

Details shortly…

February 5, 2026
Tribunal upholds PDP’s Oyekunle’s victory in Ibadan North by-election

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has upheld the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle, in the August 16, 2025, by-election for Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which had asked the court to nullify the election and declare its candidate the winner.

The SDP also contended that the election and return of Oyekunle were vitiated by non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, urging the tribunal to cancel the by-election and order a fresh or supplementary poll in the affected polling units.

Counsel to Hon. Oyekunle and the PDP, Tunji Ogunrinde (SAN), had challenged the competence of the petition, urging the tribunal to dismiss it on the grounds that the petitioner failed to list the candidate as a party to the suit.

In its judgment delivered on Wednesday in suit number EPT/OY/HR/01/2025, the tribunal, chaired by Justice A. M. Yakubu, dismissed the SDP’s petition for failure to prove the facts and grounds upon which it was based.

The tribunal held that the evidence presented by the petitioner’s sole witness was contradictory, unreliable, and inadmissible.

Consequently, the petition was dismissed for lacking merit, with the tribunal awarding costs of ₦2 million in favour of the PDP and its candidate, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle.

February 5, 2026
PDP loses two more senators to APC
- Suswam resigns from PDP, joins ruling party
- Unresolved internal conflicts pushed me out, says ex-Benue governor
Two senators from Taraba State yesterday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswan also resigned from the PDP yesterday.

He is expected to formally join the ruling party today.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the defection letters of the two senators during plenary.

Senators Haruna Manu and Issa Shuaibu Lau, in separate letters that Akpabio read during plenary, cited extensive consultations, internal crises within the PDP, and the desire to better serve their people among the reasons for their decision.

Akpabio announced the formal acceptance of their defection and directed Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to receive them into the APC, further altering the political configuration of the 10th Senate.

Last Saturday, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas formally dumped the PDP for the APC.

The defection of the two Taraba senators is seen as a move to align with their governor who is now the leader of the APC in the state.

Read Also: PDP crisis assume new dimension, staff backs Turaki leadership

Also, Suswam cited unresolved internal conflicts in the PDP as a key reason for his defection.

In a letter, dated February 4, and addressed to the PDP Chairman in Benue State, the former governor formally notified the party of his resignation.

He stated that his decision was not taken lightly, acknowledging the opportunities the PDP had given him to serve Nigerians as a member of the House of Representatives, Governor of Benue State, and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Suswam expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in him over the years.

The governor regretted that the PDP had become mired in persistent and unresolved internal disputes over leadership, structure, discipline, and ideology.

He said the hitherto ruling party now lacks a clear pathway to resolve its crisis.

Despite various interventions and public assurances, Suswam noted that the PDP has remained in a state of deep dysfunction, operating in a crisis mode without a consensus-driven solution.

As a committed democrat, the former governor said, he found it challenging to reconcile his membership with his personal convictions and the desire to contribute meaningfully to nation-building within a stable political framework.

According to him, political parties should serve as platforms for ideas and constructive engagement, rather than arenas for internal warfare.

Suswam said he deemed it necessary to step aside, wishing the party well in its quest to resolve its internal contradictions.

The former governor urged the ward chairman to accept his resignation and convey his appreciation to party members for their shared journey.

Suswam yesterday registered for APC at his Mbagber Ward, Anyiin, Logo Local Government in the state.
February 5, 2026
PDP condemns Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of results

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) as shameful and unfortunate, arguing that it reflects a lack of commitment to electoral integrity.

The party said the decision was a clear indication that the National Assembly was unwilling to enact legislation that would strengthen transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Reacting to the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act, the national publicity secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the lawmakers’ action deserved condemnation from all democratically minded citizens.

He said, “Today, after an intentional and protracted delay, the Senate, while passing the amendment to the Electoral Act, rejected the electronic transmission of results at the polling units. This rejection is most shameful and unfortunate, attracting condemnation from all democratic-minded persons.

Read Also: PDP crisis: Makinde, Wike renew hostilities

“We charge our lawmakers to remember that they are delegates of power invested in them by the voters in their various constituencies and must endeavour to mirror their desires and wishes at all times.

“It is common knowledge that the majority of Nigerians all across the 109 Senatorial Districts desire electoral sanctity which is better guaranteed through the electronic transmission of votes from the polling units. We are all witnesses to the widespread practice of altering results before it gets to the collation centre or at the collation centre.

“This electronic transmission would have brought an end to this ignoble practice that has been deployed by politicians to win elections against the wishes of the people expressed through the ballot.

“This rejection is a clear indication that the National Assembly is not willing or ready to legislate for electoral sanctity and democratic consolidation. This is indeed a sad day for electoral democracy.

“We hereby call the National Assembly to immediately reconsider its stand on this matter and take steps to pass the amendment approving the electronic transmission of results.

“This is the minimum amendment. That can increase faith in the electoral process, without which the apathy will be worse than the last general election, which is greatly unhelpful to democracy.”

February 4, 2026
JUST IN: Two Taraba senators dump PDP for APC

Two senators representing Taraba State on Wednesday officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the defections during plenary after reading letters submitted by the lawmakers.

Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

The senators, Haruna Manu and Issa Shuaibu Lau, in separate letters read by Akpabio, attributed their decision to extensive consultations, internal crises within the PDP, and their determination to better serve their constituents.

Akpabio subsequently confirmed their defection and directed the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to formally receive the lawmakers into the APC, a development that further reshapes the political composition of the 10th Senate.

The defections followed the recent move by Taraba State Governor, Kefas Agbu, who formally left the PDP for the APC last Saturday.

February 4, 2026
PDP a formidable party, not charity organisation – Wike

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a formidable political force in the country and not a charity organisation.

Wike made the remarks at the 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Monday night.

While warning members against viewing PDP as a charity organisation, he urged them to return to the grassroots and rebuild the party from the ward and polling unit levels.

“Forget the idea that PDP is a charity organisation. PDP remains a formidable political force despite its current challenges.

“PDP is too strong, very strong. We must capitalise on what we have and move forward,” he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister spoke extensively on the party’s internal challenges, the ongoing legal disputes and the way forward for rebuilding it ahead of future elections.

He stressed that his concerns were solely focused on the survival, stability and success of the party nationwide.

Wike declared his keen interest in all activities of the Oyo chapter of the party, as part of efforts towards ensuring its survival and success.

While appreciating the calls for peace by the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC), Wike urged party leaders and members to remain vigilant, noting the ongoing attempts to destabilise PDP.

He cautioned that adversaries would not relent until the party was finished, but expressed confidence that such efforts would fail.

“They will not give up until they believe you are destroyed, but I will not be destroyed; you will not be destroyed. Let us move forward,” he said.

Read Also: Wike, labour unions reach truce, end FCT workers’ strike

The minister expressed confidence that any attempt by those he described as “vampires” to take over the affairs of the party across the 36 states of the federation, including FCT, would fail.

He further urged PDP to rely on experience and internal capacity, noting the presence of competent legal and organising officers within the party, capable of navigating the current challenges.

“We have a competent legal adviser. We have a competent national organising secretary. Experience matters. When we combine our collective experience, the results will speak for themselves,” he said.

Wike thanked NEC members for attending the meeting at short notice and urged them to remain committed to strengthening the party as Nigeria’s leading opposition platform.

He said that the party was now waiting for the caretaker committee to issue clear directives, particularly on the conduct of the overdue congresses, which he described as “critical steps” towards organising a credible national convention.

(NAN)

February 3, 2026
PDP and the price for impunity

Impunity is PDP’s other name. With the party’s latest act of impunity ending in a fiasco in Ibadan High Court last Friday, the question on the lips of Nigerians concerned about the health of our democracy and party system are asking is what next?

Following a suit filed by some aggrieved members of the party’s factional leaders late last year, Justice James Omotosho had ordered their Ibadan convention to be halted until the party complies with the statutory requirements of its own constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act. He therefore directed the PDP “to go back and put its house in order, and to give the statutory 21-day notice to INEC before it can proceed with the proposed convention.”

Similarly, Sule Lamido, an elder of the party claiming he was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest for the party’s chairmanship, in violation of the PDP constitution and guidelines, also secured a Federal High Court injunction suspending the convention.

But without first vacating any of the judgments, PDP sought and secured the help of an Ibadan High Court which, on November 4, 2025, cleared the party to proceed with the national convention.

When Kabiru Tanimu Turaki’s attempt to enforce his faction’s Ibadan phyric victory was resisted by the other faction that had taken control of their Abuja Wadata national secretariat, he sought recognition of the Ibadan convention and validation of the NWC that emerged at the convention from another Ibadan Federal High Court presided over by Uche Agomoh. However, instead of the relief sought, the court last Friday nullified the November 15 -16, 2025 convention on the ground it was conducted in flagrant disobedience to two subsisting judgments of the same court. Turaki and other officials purportedly elected at the convention were barred by the court from parading themselves as national officers of the party forthwith.

Predictably, Turaki’s faction was defiant declaring “We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court” but, “Notwithstanding this judgment, the Turaki–led Peoples Democratic Party, which emerged from the Ibadan convention, remains legally intact and unshaken, as we await the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts”.

Read Also: Police urge NLC to shelve Tuesday’s planned protest

It is often said those destined for ruin, are often out of sheer pride driven to act irrationally. With timetable for the 2027 election already released by INEC and with otherwise loyal PDP party members in search for alternative platform to escape a PDP sinking ship in droves, one would have thought these times call for sober reflection with reason prevailing among PDP warring factional leaders.

It is not as if PDP deserves tears of Nigerians if its fate is now sealed. Nigerians, except those playing the ostrich, still remember their ongoing nightmare was a direct result of 16 years of PDP deliberate and calculated assault on our economy and the general health of our nation. It was their confiscation and conversion of our national resources to personal use of their members that brought our nation to ruins With air of invulnerability, they went on to share the nation’s national patrimony kept in their temporary care for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. If death is the wages of sin, that PDP deserves s to die is not debatable.

But Nigerians, a much forgiving people did not want PDP to die. They want it to live even if not totally out of altruism. It is on record that for the first 16 years of the fourth republic, PDP became a threat to our budding democracy achieved through intense struggle, sweat and blood. It was an era of thriving anti-democratic elements such as Olusegun Obasanjo, David Mark Atiku Abubakar, A Ali, men who purely for sadistic humour irreverently danced on the tombs of those who made the supreme sacrifice that democracy may thrive in our land.

Of course there are other reasons Nigerians should have no restraint singing the traditional night prayer- Nunc Dimittis for the passage of PDP if that is its ordained fate. For instance this is a party of warring factional leaders for whom honour counts for little when they are engaged in war of attrition over illegal sharing of our national resources. It was PDP leaders that told Nigerians which of them stole what.

It was Obasanjo’s PDP children including Atiku Abubakar and Dino Melaiye who first attempted to disrobe their father on the street by accusing him of alleged corruption. The former alleged his principal directed him to deploy state resources to buy a car for his concubine and the later asking the following rhetorical question following their principal’s labelling of the National Assembly as an assemblage of ‘pen robbers’: “Has Baba forgotten it was not the 8th assembly that collected ‘Ghana must go bags’ from him for his failed third term debacle?

It was Bukola Saraki who became the whistle-blower in the fuel subsidy scam through which PDP stalwarts and their siblings defrauded the nation of billons of naira. It was also Saraki who personally confessed that he literarily ‘stole’ the presidency of the 8th assembly. It was David Mark who betrayed his greed by going to court to pre-empt EFCC that had raised question of impropriety in his process of buying the senate mansion, a national patrimony which did not fall under items for sale under government monetization policy.

PDP alive is probably as dangerous as the one that will ultimately end up in hell. But for our own selfish interest, we need it alive to give legitimacy to our budding democracy which thrives better under a multi-party system. This is why in spite of PDP capital sins, Nigerians have quietly prayed and hoped it stops digging itself into the hole.

Unfortunately neither Nigerians’ past fervent prayers nor its envisioning of better future for PDP has stopped it from self-destruct.

It is for instance on record that in 2013, Atiku Abubakar, ever in search of presidential platform at every election season , along with Usman Bugaje, his adviser, pulled out of PDP to join forces with Bukola Saraki and some PDP governors to form nPDP. They eventually joined forces with newly formed APC. That betrayal of their party was all untested APC needed to collect power from weakened PDP.

In 2019, with characteristic display of air of invulnerability of the Obasanjo and Tony Anenih’s era of ‘do or die elections’, Atiku, Saraki and their group headed back to PDP. But with APC now consolidated in power, PDP was roundly defeated by President Buhari in spite of his-first term’s lack-lustre performance

A leopard does not change its spots. In 2023, PDP leaders including Atiku Abubakar, Iyorchia Ayu, David mark and Tambuwal jettisoned their party’s time-tested power rotational policy. They treated party members that disagreed with them with disdain.

Tambuwal was Wike’s trusted ally. He, however at the last minute, came out to play the ethnic and religious card by supporting Atiku Abubakar. They did not stop hitting Wike when he was down. Despite winning 14 of the 17 votes cast by PDP leading lights for the VP slot, Atiku by-passed him and settled for Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of oil-rich Delta State notorious for generous donations towards successive PDP presidential campaign war-chest. Wike’s answer to Atiku’s impunity was to disallow him from campaigning in which he went on to secure for candidate Bola Tinubu.

It was also curious that PDP did not weigh the consequences of ignoring the legitimate demand of the southeast that was the most important harvester of votes for PDP outside the north. It equally ignored the nuisance value of an opportunistic Peter Obi who, emerging from being a two-term APGA governor, quickly rose to become PDP VP candidate in 2019.

Realising he stood no chance against Atiku in the 2023, PDP presidential primary, he migrated back home to exploit the ethnic and religious sentiments of his equally aggrieved Igbo people. Obi later moved to Lagos and other Nigerian cities with huge Igbo urban immigrants to harvest group Igbo and Christian votes that placed his Labour platform third in the election. His gain was PDP’s loss.

It is apparent the only people that have continued to benefit from impunity since the birth of the fourth republic are its perpetrators. Everyone else including members of party oligarchy, political office holder and seekers, at the end has been a loser. Group interest and personal ambitions of party members, best achieved through compromise are frittered away through zero-sum intra-party struggle. The result is threat to the survival of party system, abuse of the judicial process and a culture of fear and heightened tension. And the cheapest solution according to Justice Omotosho of Abuja High Court is PDP putting its house in order.

February 3, 2026
Wike/Anyanwu PDP faction holds national convention March 28

The Nyesom Wike/Sam Anyanwu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed March 28 and 29 for national convention to elect leaders to pilot the affairs of the party.

In a communique at the end of its National Executive Committee Meeting by the Acting National Chairman of the faction, Abdulrahman Mohammed and the Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the faction applauded the judgement of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which validated its existence.

The communique reaffirmed the absolute belief of the faction in the independence of the Judiciary and the sanctity of the rule of law as the cornerstones of democracy and constitutional governance in Nigeria.

The communique reads: ‘The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its 105th Meeting on MONDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY 2026, in Abuja.

“After extensive deliberations on the state of the Party, the political environment, recent judicial developments, and preparations for forthcoming internal processes, NEC unanimously reconfirmed, ratified, and reaffirmed the full content, validity, force, and effect of all resolutions and decisions reached at the Emergency 104th NEC Meeting held on Sunday, 7th December 2025.

“NEC emphasised that all actions taken pursuant to the 104th NEC resolutions remain binding, lawful, and operative, having been taken in strict compliance with the PDP Constitution (as amended), the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), the Electoral Act, and relevant judicial pronouncements.

“NEC reaffirmed its absolute belief in the independence of the Judiciary and the sanctity of the rule of law as the cornerstone of democracy and constitutional governance in Nigeria.

“In this regard, NEC welcomed and affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, which upheld the legality of the Party’s leadership and administrative arrangements and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the duly constituted National Caretaker Committee of the PDP in line with the law.

Read Also: Wike inaugurates, NDDC 9.4km road, 1,500-seater hall in Rivers community

“NEC resolved that all Party organs, members, and stakeholders shall continue to act strictly in obedience to subsisting court judgments and judicial directives, and urged INEC and all relevant institutions to fully comply with the said judgment in the interest of democracy and constitutional order.

“NEC once again reaffirmed the legitimacy, authority, and mandate of the Abdulrahman Muhammed-led National Caretaker Committee, with Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu as Secretary, as earlier constituted and endorsed.

“NEC reiterated that the National Caretaker Committee remains the only lawful national administrative organ of the Party, fully empowered to act as the National Working Committee (NWC) pending the conduct of the

National Convention.

“Pursuant to its constitutional responsibilities and in line with preparations for a smooth transition to an elected leadership, NEC approved and confirmed the schedule for Party Congresses nationwide.

“NEC directed the National Caretaker Committee, in collaboration with the National Organizing Secretary and relevant organs of the Party, to issue detailed quidelines, notices, and modalities for the conduct of the congresses in strict compliance with the PDP Constitution, INEC Regulations, and judicial directives.

“NEC further approved and confirmed MARCH 28th and 29th, 2026, as the date for the PDP National Convention, to be held at ABUJA, for the purpose of electing members of the National Working Committee and other statutory organs of the Party.

“NEC affirmed the extention of the tenure of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), and others affected Caretaker Committees of the State and Zonal Chapters pending the conduct of the National Convention, State and Zonal Congresses respectively.

“NEC mandated the National Caretaker Committee to immediately activate Convention Sub-Committees and Commence full logistical, all administrative, and consultative preparations to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and credible Convention.

“NEC called on all members of the Party at all levels to remain united, disciplined, and loyal to the PDP, eschew actions capable of undermining Party cohesion, and place the collective interest of the Party above personal considerations.

“NEC reaffirmed that the PDP remains committed to rebuilding a strong, disciplined, democratic, and electorally competitive Party capable of providing credible leadership and governance to Nigerians.

“NEC expressed confidence that the resolutions of the 105th NEC Meeting will strengthen internal democracy, restore stability, and reposition the Party for future electoral success.

“The Committee urged all stakeholders, supporters, and members of the PDP across the country and in the diaspora to remain steadfast, law-abiding, and committed to the ideals of the Party.”

February 2, 2026