Tag: PDP

  • PDP faction petitions CJN, wants Justice Akintola sanctioned over ex parte order

    PDP faction petitions CJN, wants Justice Akintola sanctioned over ex parte order

    Supporters of the Abdulrahaman Mohammed-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday asked the National Judicial Council (CJN) to sanction Justice AL Akintola of the Ibadan High Court for issuing an ex parte order for the conduct of the PDP National Convention this weekend.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of Imo state Chapter of the Party, Austine Nwachukwu, who, along with two others, secured the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja stopping the convention, said the action of Justice Akintola was a violation of established judicial processes.

    Flanked by his two colleagues in the suit, Amah Abraham Nnanna and Turnah Alabh George, he said they have submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is the Chairman of the National Judicial Council.

    Justice Akintola on Monday renewed his ex parte order asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend and monitor the convention in line with its guidelines, as the Damagun-led leadership of the party has met all the legal processes for the conduct of the convention.

    He said, “We want to draw the attention of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Nigerian public to a petition before the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Honourable Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court.

    “The petition, dated November 5, 2025, and duly received by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, 2025, was submitted by Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George on behalf of themselves as critical stakeholders of PDP.

    “The petition raises serious concerns over what is described as acts of judicial recklessness, impunity, and flagrant violation of established legal processes by Justice Akintola, particularly in his decision to issue an ex parte order on November 4th, permitting the conduct of the PDP National Convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.

    READ ALSO; Progressive governors laud Tinubu’s security overhaul

    “This order, according to the petitioners, directly contradicts a valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on 31st of October 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which had expressly restrained the PDP from holding its convention on the same dates.

    “The petitioners rightly contend that Justice Akintola’s action amounts to sitting on appeal over a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction-an act that undermines judicial hierarchy and the sanctity of the rule of law.

    “This disturbing development not only threatens the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary but also risks setting a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the justice system.

    “We therefore call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to urgently investigate this matter and take decisive action, just as it had done in similar cases involving judicial misconduct in Rivers State, Imo State, and other jurisdictions, where they were seen to have acted promptly as soon as the petitions were received by it.

    “The NJC must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and the preservation of judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay.

    “The Nigerian judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man and not a tool in the hands of those seeking to subvert justice for political expediency. The NJC’s prompt and transparent action on this petition will go a long way in restoring faith in the judiciary and reinforcing the principle that no one matter how highly placed, is above the law”.

  • Heavy security as court adjourns PDP national convention case

    Heavy security as court adjourns PDP national convention case

    Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola on Monday, adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice in a case as filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its acting national chairman, and others till Wednesday, November 12.

    The case was held amid a heavy security presence who were stationed at the entrance and other strategic locations within the premises.

    It was a busy time for the security operatives as they thoroughly screened people before gaining access to the courtroom, including lawyers.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria losing $15bn yearly to oil theft — Experts

    Journalists were, however, barred from gaining entry into the courtroom.

    Court resumed on Monday following an earlier adjournment last week after ruling on the ex parte motion ordering the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proceed with its scheduled National Convention slated for Ibadan on November 15-16.

    After listening to the Counsel of both parties on Monday, the presiding Judge urged the parties to file all the processes for effective take-offs of the case.

    He, therefore, adjourned the case till Wednesday to take all the pending applications before the Court.

    The Nation recalls that the claimant/ Applicant has sought the order of the court restraining the defendants, Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, the Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (for himself and members of the National Convention Organising Committee), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or their agents, from truncating or frustrating the conduct of the party’s scheduled national convention.

    The Court also directed the PDP leadership to adhere strictly to the guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities earlier released for the convention.

  • Alleged forgery rocks PDP over Ekiti Gov primary

    Alleged forgery rocks PDP over Ekiti Gov primary

    Less than 24 hours after release of the result of Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Ekiti State, the entire exercise has run into a major controversy with allegations of forgery of official signatures.

    Although the embattled factional national chairman of the party and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba declined to respond to The Nation’s enquiry on Sunday, other party officials alleged that the document on which the result was stated bears clear and weighty elements of forgery.

    National Secretary, Senator Samuelnyanwu and the National Organizing Secretary, Capt Umar Bature (rtd) stated that their signatures on the PDP’s official ‘Ekiti State Result Sheet’ for the Saturday governorship primary election were forged.

    Read Also: APC’s Ukachukwu weeps over burning of APC supporter’s building

    Both officials belong to the pro-Wike faction of PDP which claims to have suspended Damagum while Damagum’s faction backed by some PDP Governors also claimed to have suspended Anyanwu and Bature.

    “It is just another forgery,” Senator Anyanwu asserted in a text message sent in response to our correspondent.

    When asked to confirm whether his signature on the document was genuine or not, Umar Bature emphatically denied being a signatory to the document.

    “We have not signed on any result sheet since a Supreme Court ruling; ask them well because I did not sign on any such document,” he asserted.

    Chairman of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who represents Gombe North announced that a medical expert, Dr. Wole Oluyede won with 279 votes to defeat Funso Ayeni who polled 239 votes and Funmilayo Ogun who scored 17 votes.

    Altogether, 535 delegates drawn across the 177 wards in the State were reported to have participated in the election.

    Supporters from both factions of the PDP are already attacking one another on social media with Damagum loyalists asserting that result sheets and party membership cards had been pre-printed in large numbers months before the party’s current crisis while loyalists of Wike/Anyanwu are emphasising that there is mischief if the ‘conjured signatures’ of party officials whom the Damagum camp claimed to have suspended are now being used in a desperate effort to add legitimacy to such process.

    “In their statement titled “Forgery Is A Crime: Our Party Must Not Be Built On Falsehood And Deception’, supporters of Wike/Anyanwu alleged that such forgery is an extension of Damagum faction’s false claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has endorsed the Damagum faction’s purported suspension of PDP National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and Deputy National Legal Adviser

    “No wonder some of their paid data urchins have been busy peddling unfounded propaganda that INEC had recognised or confirmed the so-called suspension of the four national officers of our great party; then suddenly, the appearance of this very document (dated 8/11/2025) surfaced, bearing the same names and signatures of those who were allegedly suspended.

    “This development has left every loyal member of the party stunned and filled with genuine questions regarding the credibility, authenticity, and legality of the documents currently being circulated; this incident wholesomely validates the warning issued a fortnight ago by our National Secretary, who alerted the public that some cohorts had forged his signature and dispatched a document to INEC without his consent,” they alleged.

  • JUST IN: Oluyede emerges Ekiti PDP Gov candidate

    JUST IN: Oluyede emerges Ekiti PDP Gov candidate

    Renowned physician and businessman, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has emerged the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 election in Ekiti State.

    Oluyede clinched the ticket after polling 279 votes to defeat his closest rival, Funsho Ayeni, who garnered 239 votes, while the only female aspirant in the race, Funmi Oguns, secured 17 votes.

    The keenly contested primary election was held on Saturday at the Vino Event Centre, Elemi, along Afao Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital

    The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies who ensured a peaceful shadow poll. 

    Accreditation of delegates began around 6:00 pm with voting extending late into the night and concluding in the early hours of Sunday. 

    Delegates from the 16 local government areas  participated in the exercise, which party observers described as orderly and credible despite the long hours.

    An Australia-based medical doctor, Oluyede has practised across several continents—including the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia—amassing vast international experience and networks over the years.

    In his acceptance speech, Oluyede expressed gratitude to his supporters, party leaders, and faithful members whose commitment and resilience, he said, made his victory possible.

    He dedicated the triumph to all members of the PDP, assuring them that there would be no losers in the contest but “partners in progress and champions of democracy.”

    “I thank every member of our great party who believed in the process and in the vision we share for a greater Ekiti,” Oluyede said. 

    Read Also: JUST IN: Ohabunwa emerges factional PDP BOT chairman

    “Together, we have demonstrated that internal democracy is alive and thriving in the PDP in Ekiti State. There are no losers here—only partners working toward a common goal.”

    He commended the conduct of the primary election, describing it as competitive, transparent, and fair, and hailed the spirit of maturity displayed by the aspirants.

    The PDP flag bearer also appreciated the factional National Chairman of the Party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for unwavering support and commitment to fairness and transparency in the process.

    Oluyede further extended gratitude to the Southwest leaders of the PDP, especially Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, for ensuring a level playing field for all aspirants throughout the exercise.

    He also saluted his fellow aspirants for their forthrightness and maturity during the primary, noting that their conduct strengthened faith in the party’s democratic process.

    “With this victory, I assure Ekiti people that true change is coming,” he declared. “The journey has just begun, and together, we will build a state that reflects the hopes and aspirations of our people.”

  • Agboola’s exit from Oyo PDP, a blessing, says PDP chieftain

    Agboola’s exit from Oyo PDP, a blessing, says PDP chieftain

    • Stakeholders pass vote of confidence in Makinde’s leadership

    Top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State have declared full support for Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership, describing the achievements of his administration as the best ever in the history of the state.

    The PDP leaders in the zone from ten local government areas comprising Irepo, Olorunsogo, Oorelope, Atisbo, Saki West, Saki East, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola and Iseyi local governments, affirmed their vote of confidence in the leadership of Governor Makinde’s administration. 

    Flooded by party chairmen and other members of executives in the ten local governments in the zone, the stakeholders meeting came on the heels of recent resignation of membership of PDP of a former lawmaker, and chieftain of the state PDP , Senator Hosea Agboola popularly known as Hallelujah.

    Agboola left the state PDP along with a retinue of his followers in the Oke Ogun zone.

    Leading the pack at the PDP stakeholders meeting held at the Iseyi Demonstration School l & ll , field in Iseyin on Thursday, are the Deputy Governor,  Barrister Bayo Lawal,  former House of Representatives member,  Hon Shina Peller, PDP Board of Trustee member, Engr Hamid Gbadamosi, and former state PDP chairman,  Pa Jacob Adetoro amongst others.

    Read Also: PDP and the dance of musical chairs

    They described the decision of Senator Hosea Agboola to leave the party as a blessing to the state PDP.

    The chairmen of the PDP in the ten local governments in the Oke Ogun zone testified by addressing the leaders one after the other, and affirmed  that none of them has left the party .

    Shina Peller,  a leader of the PDP in the zone, and former House of Representatives member , in his submission said the PDP stakeholders meeting became imperative to discuss the current situation of the party in each of the local governments after the exit of Senator Agboola.

  • PDP’s relentless decay

    PDP’s relentless decay

    Every time an analyst thought it could not get worse for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ill-fated party dredged up more shocking details about its structural atrophy. The party began to decay when former vice president Atiku Abubakar cajoled it into gifting him the nomination for the 2023 presidential election. Then it began to fracture awkwardly into about three or four parts when it refused to restructure its zoning arrangement post-nomination. After the inevitable electoral loss, the party became so dispirited that it forgot how to dress its wounds to trigger the healing process. The party hierarchy never regained stability after that epochal falling-out.

    Read Also: PDP crisis: Wike group dissolves Wabara-led BoT

    Fast forward to today. Believing that once it managed to conduct an elective convention, the healing balm would materialise, it tried to force itself into an arrangement that would conduce to that healing by producing a consensus chairmanship candidate. Instead, through the litigation of a faction, it was slammed with a Federal High Court, Abuja, judgement that forbade the convention. An appeal might do some good here, right? Yes, in a rational party. But the main faction simply countered with a court order, not a judgement, from Oyo State where the convention was billed to hold on November 15-16. It didn’t make legal sense, but the discomfited party was at this point past caring what anyone thought.

    The PDP and a few other opposition parties have now worked themselves up to a point where they argue that the ruling and ‘omnipotent’ All Progressives Congress (APC) is behind their ordeal. And they believe their own lies. The last opportunity to revivify their party is, however, closing. It is now feared that as they decay, they may lack the men and ideas to redeem themselves or reclaim their once dominant position in the polity. 

  • Wike, Anyanwu move to further consolidate hold on PDP

    Wike, Anyanwu move to further consolidate hold on PDP

    The Damagum and Wike groups have taken their  battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Both sides are seeking formal recognition of INEC as  the ‘original’ PDP.

    The Damagum faction was first in writing  a letter to the commission, intimating it of the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu,National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.

    This was to pave the way for its recognition by the commission.

    The Wike group, which in a counter move  suspended Ambassador Umar Damagum, Debo Ologunagba, Taofeek Arapaja, Daniel Woyenguikoro, Sulaiman Kadade and Setonji Koshoedo as national chairman,national publicity secretary, deputy national vice chairman (South), national financial secretary, national youth leader, and, deputy national secretary,respectively,has also written a similar letter to INEC.

    The letter, dated November 3, 2025 is  seeking   formal recognition of the Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction of the PDP National Working Commission.

    The Wike group is also understood to be taking  legal action against the Damagum faction.

    Already, the Wike group has approached the Court of Appeal to seek clarification on the  recent judgement delivered by Justice Omotosho in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.

    In that judgement, the court barred INEC from monitoring or recognizing the Ibadan National Convention being planned by the rival side.

    The Damagum faction has vowed to proceed with the Ibadan convention having obtained an order of an Oyo State High Court to that effect.

    The convention is scheduled for November 15 and 16.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Ohabunwa emerges factional PDP BOT chairman

    The Nation gathered that the Wike faction is looking ahead to a more legally grounded PDP national convention within the next few months.

    Besides, the new acting National Chairman of the Wike group has petitioned  the Inspector-General of Police, calling for a full-scale investigation of Ambassador Umar Damagum and some of his loyalists over the alleged invasion of the PDP national secretariat on November 3, 2025.

    On the same date, Senator Samuel Anyanwu issued a memo titled ‘Re: Staff Dismissal” directing all party secretariat staff said to have been sacked by the Damagum faction, to stay put.

    “Let every staff concerned or in receipt of such mischievous letter disregard it forthwith and consider it as illegal and of no effect,” Anyanwu stated emphatically.

     The Nation gathered that on Thursday, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike met with a delegation  of the Wabara-led PDP Board of Trustees whose request for dialogue and reconciliation was dismissed by the Minister.

    He accused them of taking sides earlier.

    On Friday, his group dissolved the BoT and set up its own headed by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

    The Wike  faction is said to have established that a good number of members of the Wabara-led PDP BoT had served well beyond the five years’ tenure that the PDP constitution allows.

    The group also acted on the purported expulsion of Wabara earlier  this year over alleged anti-party activities by  the Abia PDP  State Working Committee.

    The  Damagum group said on Friday that it was on course to hold the Ibadan convention on November 15 and 16.

    “With just eight days until the landmark Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig National Elective Convention on November 15-16, 2025, the party is firing on all cylinders, ready to elect a dynamic new National Working Committee (NWC) and solidify its unbreakable unity as Nigeria’s premier opposition force gears up for a triumphant return in 2027,” it said in a statement on its verified X account.

    Tthe party said over 3,000 delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are scheduled to participate in the event.

    It said: “This two-day spectacle is more than a leadership transition—it’s a bold declaration of renewal, reconciliation, and resilience, positioning the PDP to dismantle the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s grip on power and restore hope to millions of Nigerians weary of economic hardship, insecurity, and governance failures.

    “ This convention will not only install a refreshed NWC but also heal divides, amplify diverse voices, and chart a roadmap to victory in 2027.”

    In a separate statement,the Damagum group insisted that Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade, remained suspended as national secretary,national organising secretary and national legal adviser respectively.

    It described   Abdulrahman Mohammed, Vice Chairman (North Central), as an impostor and illegitimate claimant of the position of Acting National Chairman.

    It added: “This decisive stance underscores the party’s unwavering commitment to constitutional discipline and unity as it prepares toward the unifying National Elective Convention, #Ibadan2025, on November 15-16.

    “The suspensions, imposed on November 1, 2025, following an emergency NWC meeting, were enacted under Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h), and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), citing grave constitutional infractions and actions detrimental to the party’s progress.

    “These measures, also extending to Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, remain in full force for one month, with the affected officers referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further review.

    “In view of the foregoing, the PDP has formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of these actions, ensuring compliance with the decision of the NWC which the electoral body has acknowledged.

    “The PDP NWC remains indivisible under Ambassador Damagum’s legitimate leadership, with 14 of 17 members standing firm against this charade. Anyanwu, Bature, Ajibade, and their co-conspirators, including the self-proclaimed ‘Acting Chairman’ Abdulrahman Mohammed, are illegitimate actors whose desperate maneuvers, fueled by personal ambitions and APC proxies, will not fracture the PDP’s resolve.”

  • PDP and the dance of musical chairs

    PDP and the dance of musical chairs

    Once hailed as Africa’s largest political party and the engine of Nigeria’s democratic rebirth, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now finds itself trapped in a dizzying dance of defections, rivalries, and power tussles that threaten its survival ahead of its national convention.
    Once the platform of Presidents and power brokers, the party has become a stage where alliances shift like sand and loyalty changes with the rhythm of ambition. As old wounds reopen and new factions emerge, the PDP’s struggle to reclaim its identity has turned into a chaotic ballet of self-preservation, a political dance of musical chairs in which no seat seems safe, and no leader certain to stay when the music stops. What was once Nigeria’s symbol of political stability has become a lesson in disarray, and the question haunting both members and observers is simple: can the PDP survive its own dance of musical chairs? TONY AKOWE reports

    For 16 years when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) held sway in the country, it was the beautiful bride for all Nigerian politicians. State governors and legislators, both at the federal and state levels, sought to be members of the party. The party appeared to have a mechanism for conflict resolution. Even after losing power to the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conflict resolution mechanism remained intact, putting the government of the day on its toes and holding on to its members as much as possible.  Even when Adamu Muazu exited as National Chairman of the party, the party remained largely in control of its affairs. When former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and former Kaduna state Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, emerged as factional Chairmen of the party, the party remained, while the Board of Trustees stood firm to bring all warring factions together, and the party was better for it. That battle, which nearly tore the party apart, ended only after a Supreme Court judgment restored Makarfi as caretaker chairman. A few years later, a similar scenario played out when the Uche Secondus leadership faced rebellion from governors and national officers, leading to his eventual ouster by court, paving the way for the 2021 convention, which saw the emergence of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman—a choice that was supposed to heal divisions but instead deepened them. Interestingly, since losing power in 2015 after sixteen uninterrupted years at the centre, the PDP has never fully recovered its rhythm. Each attempt at revival seems to generate a new conflict.

    But the race for the 2023 presidential election put a clog on the wheel of the party. When the party went for its national convention, reports had it that there was an agreement that the presidential ticket be zoned to the south and that in the event that a northerner emerged as the party’s candidate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who emerged as National Chairman, would resign. But that was not to be, as Ayu stuck to his gun and ran the 2023 general election after the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential candidate. That action has continued to hunt the party, with former Rivers State governor, Ezenwa Nyelsom Wike, leading the main opposition to events and programmes of the party. Wike’s opposition saw the removal of Ayu and the elevation of Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum in acting capacity. This created yet another bitter phase that has stretched longer than expected.

    The tenure of the current National Working Committee of the party is scheduled to expire on the 8th of December, 2025. By implication, Damagun and his team, including those opposed to the holding of the National Convention, will be out of work with effect from that day. Considering this and in line with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act, the party, at its 102 National Executive Committee meeting, fixed the National Convention for 15 and 16 November in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. The meeting also set up a 44-member zoning Committee with Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, as Chairman, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal as vice chairman, and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang as secretary. At the end of their meeting, the zoning committee recommended that the presidency be zoned to the south and the national chairman to the north. They also concluded that all positions remain in the respective regions where they currently are situated. The party therefore directed that the positions be micro-zoned for easy nomination to avoid a crisis.

    However, the buildup to the national convention has not been a smooth journey. The politics of the convention has been built around powerful camps built around individuals. First, it was the battle of who is the National Secretary, which was resolved in favour of Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Followers of development within the party are of the view that the current struggle, which pits several blocs against each other, with each seeking control of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), has the capacity to affect the ticketing power of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections. Interestingly, there are two broad camps in the struggle for the soul of the party currently. These are the ‘Wike Camp,’ made up of those loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the ‘Mainstream’ Camp, made up of several key members of the party. Before now, this mainstream camp included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern heavyweights who have since chickened out of the party and pitched a tent with the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), where they are still struggling to put things in order ahead of the 2027 elections. Even though both parties in the current dance in the PDP have continued to argue that all they want is to have a party that can win elections and promote the culture of peace, their manoeuvres appear to tell a different story. For example, Wike’s group, though nominally within the PDP, has been accused of working at cross-purposes with the party’s national leadership, with many referring to his open support for the APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election. But the mainstream members of the party led by the PDP governors see the coming national convention as an opportunity to reclaim the party structure ahead of 2027. “This convention is about the soul of the PDP,” said a senior member of the National Executive Committee (NEC). “Whoever controls the structure now will determine who gets the ticket later.”

    Defections and desertions

     The PDP’s internal disputes have not remained contained. Between mid-2024 and October 2025, at least three sitting governors, a dozen senators, and more than thirty members of the House of Representatives have dumped the party and joined the APC or became politically inactive. Among the most notable exits were the defections of high-ranking legislators from the North-West led by former Kebbi State governor, Senator Adamu Aliero and the South-South zones. The entire PDP Legislators from Delta state, except Ned Nwoko, left for the APC. But rather than address issues in the party that have led to mass exit of governors and lawmakers, the party leadership sees a more sinister hand, accusing the APC of using the weapon of inducement, intimidation and coercion to get its elected officials to dump the PDP. But not many staunch PDP loyalists believe that external pressures alone can explain the mass exodus. A member of the party told The Nation that “when members lose faith in internal justice, they will find another platform. The APC may be courting them, but we made it easy for them to leave.”

    While leaders of the PDP and others have accused the APC of trying to create a one-party state, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed the claim, asking the opposition party to put its house in order. While addressing the National Assembly during the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, the President said, “Your alarm may be a result of your panic; it rings in error. At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria. I have never attempted to alter any political party registration with INEC. Equally, my friends, we cannot blame anybody seeking to bail out of a sinking ship even without a life jacket. I would be the last person to advocate such a scheme. In 2003, when the then-governing party tried to sweep the nation clean of political opposition through plot and manipulation, I was the last of the progressive governors standing in my region. The failed effort to create a one-party state placed progressive political forces on a trajectory to form the APC. It put me on the trajectory which has brought me before you today. I dare not do such a favour to any political adversary by repeating the same mistake of political overreach. That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC”. His suggestions to the PDP and other losing members to the APC were direct. He said “political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist. For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray.”

    The process leading to the National Convention in Ibadan has, however, not been a smooth one. Some of those who are supposed to play a critical role in the process have either chickened out or are sitting on the fence. For example, Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, who was appointed as secretary of the convention planning committee, has dumped the party and pitched a tent with the APC. Also, Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, who headed the zoning Committee as well as one of the subcommittees for the convention, has announced his resignation from the PDP. Even though the governor has not disclosed his destination, many believe that he was heading for the APC. On the other hand, Governor Kigbu Kefas of Taraba State has been sitting on the fence for a while. It has been rumoured that he was also on his way to the APC, a position that he has neither confirmed nor denied. But it was observed that the Governor was not present when his subcommittee on security held its inaugural meeting, like other governors did. He was also not present during the Northern stakeholders meeting where Kabiru Tanimu Turaki was adopted as the consensus candidate for the position of the National Chairman of the PDP. So, for now, the direction of the governor is yet unknown.

    As part of the plan for the 2025 national convention, the party advertised a call for nominations from those who want to contest national offices. While several others may have come forward to buy the nomination forms, former Jigawa state governor,  Sule Lamido, stayed back and refused to come forward, even though it was rumoured that he was interested in being the National Chairman of the party. He had sworn never to participate in activities of the party until Wike was expelled from the party.

    He said, “During our time, the party was supreme. It held full authority, and everyone respected it, whether in the North, South, East, or West. Anyone — no matter how influential — who crossed the party line would be sanctioned. Today, people openly working against the PDP are still being tolerated. “Someone like Wike, who claims to love the PDP but is clearly undermining it, should be expelled by the NWC. Why hasn’t that happened? Look at the Board of Trustees (BOT). People like Ortom, who declared support for Peter Obi in 2023, are still members. That’s why I’ve said I will not attend any PDP meeting unless Wike is expelled and people like Ortom are removed from the BOT. I remain a PDP member, but I will not participate in party functions or answer calls to meetings while these individuals remain in leadership. How can I sit with someone like Ortom in the BOT to discuss the future of PDP? Or someone like Anyanwu, who is rejected in his own zone and is now being imposed by another zone? These are impostors. Wike is someone who was honoured by the PDP, brought into relevance by the PDP, and now turns around to fight the very party that made him. Wike is, quite frankly, a disaster.

    “What he has done is un-African and un-Nigerian. I don’t understand how someone, simply because of his own ambition, can take things so personally and act so destructively. There used to be a party culture that prioritised collective good — something altruistic — but that seems lost now. He lacks the values and traditions that define our political culture. I’m glad, however, that President Tinubu intervened. The office was reopened by his order.”

     After staying away from the activities of the party, including the sales of forms for contesting offices into the NWC, the former Jigawa governor resolved to contest the office of eh National Chairman, coming to the national Secretariat to purchase the nomination form several weeks after the close of nomination in accordance with the timetable of activities for the convention. In addition to the fact that he came to obtain the form after the sales had closed, Lamido chose to head to the Wadata Plaza, which houses the national secretariat, rather than the Legacy House, where the convention committee is operating from. He called the party a family and everything happening there a family affair. But the PDP is already burdened by several litigations, and yet, Lamido vowed to add to the list of litigations by heading to court to challenge his inability to obtain the nomination form. But the question is, as an elder of the party and one of the few founding fathers remaining in the party, should that be his option? Will his action not further burden the party and give advantage to those the party claims want to destroy it? Lamido’s anger is the lack of consultation among leaders of the party, especially those from the North West, on who should be their choice for the position of National Chairman.

    National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, is one of those who argued that a scheduled meeting of the North West leaders summoned by Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, never took place as the governor gave excuses that he was travelling. But Lamido said the northern leaders and PDP governors preempted their meeting by holding one a day before their scheduled meeting to select Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as consensus candidate from the north for the chairmanship position. The convention committee had to hurriedly cancel the screening of aspirants, citing “logistical reasons” and the need for “further consultations.”

    Unofficially, insiders said the party was struggling to manage deepening disputes over the zoning of key offices, eligibility of some aspirants, and allegations that certain leaders were plotting to impose a preferred list of candidates as national officers of the party. While it is reported that Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde has already endorsed Taofeek Arapaja as National Secretary, the incumbent secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu dismissed that saying since the position was zoned to the south, he was not aware of the idea of microzoning the position to the Southwest, adding that he has the legal right to contest a second term as secretary, alleging that he was being denied the opportunity since he was not even aware of the sales of form.

    Consensus option

     Observers of the activities of the PDP said the party has always had the tradition of selecting its leaders through consensus because they believe that the party is more of a family affair.

    Umar Sani, spokesperson of the Tanimu Turaki campaign team, said aside from Solomon Lar, who was given the mandate to lead the party as an Interim Chairman, several other leaders have always emerged either as consensus candidates chosen by the President or one governor or the other. Sani said, “The chairman of a major political party is not merely a regional representative, but that of the whole federation. He is the engine room and rallying point of the entire political organisation. His emergence cannot and has never been an exclusive regional affair.

     From Solomon Lar to Barnabas Gemade, Vincent Ogbulafor, Audu Ogbe, Ahmadu Ali, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Bamanga Tukur, and Adamu Mu’azu, party chairmen have always been products of broader consultations and the influence of powerful blocs within the PDP. Indeed, most chairmen were hand-picked or endorsed by sitting Presidents or leading power brokers within the party. Solomon Lar’s one-year one-term tenure was an exception. He was chosen to set the ball rolling and put the party on a sound footing. Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, for example, was chosen to complete the North-East tenure after the resignation of Adamu Muazu, through the intervention of Wike and Fayose. The Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee was the brainchild of Babangida Aliyu (The Chief Servant) and former Gov Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in Port Harcourt. Prince Uche Secondus emerged through Wike’s backing, just as Sen Iyorchia Ayu was a joint product of Wike and Samuel Ortom. History, therefore, proves that party leaders and governors will always show interest in who leads them. Ironically, Capt. Umar Bature himself became National Organising Secretary through a unilateral nomination by Sen Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. For him now to lead a rebellion against the collective will of the governors is a clear act and a demonstration of insubordination and ingratitude.”

     While announcing the decision of the northern leaders to settle for Turaki, Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri said, “As northern leaders of our great party, the PDP and representatives of the states in the North, we have met this evening to deliberate and take a decision on the office of the National Chairman of our party, which was zoned to the north. We met this evening to deliberate and make a decision on the office of the chairman of our great party, the PDP, which was zoned to the north. In our meeting, we have reflected deeply and widely through consultation and going to Ibadan for our national convention, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North, and by extension, Nigeria, as the chairman of the PDP. That gentleman is KT Turaki, SAN. This is our decision this evening, and he is the person we are presenting at that convention as our chairman to represent our party on the 15th and 16th of November in Ibadan. I do not want to preclude what others are speculating outside, but we are gentlemen, and you can see all of us; we are leaders. We represent each of the states in the north, the 19 states, including the FCT. And this is our decision, and we expect this to be the lineup of our delegates in Ibadan. PDP is an institution, and we have a mechanism to handle all these issues. We will reach out and talk to each other. We have been talking to ourselves, not today, not yesterday. This is a build-up of consensus in the last two weeks, and we have just had a consultation, and this is just the result. I assure you that the convention will be a rancour-free convention. We are still united and focused, and our primary responsibility at the moment is the convention. And this is what we’re discussing primarily”.

    Speaking on other positions of the party, Gov. Fintiri assured that all positions of the party “will be resolved at the regional level, and they will present their candidates along with others for us to present at the convention. Altogether, we have ten positions in the north, as far as the convention is concerned. But, nevertheless, anybody who still feels he will want to contest in any position is free, and this is what our position has allowed. We are not excluding anybody. But then, we have just announced to you our consensus candidate, as far as these leaders are concerned. But if anybody still feels he wants to contest, I have said it, time will go by without the door being open. Even if you want to contest the positions that have been zoned to the north, you are free. We will sell the form to you. If you are not from the north, we will allow you to contest.”

     But some leaders of the party from the North West, led by the National Organising Secretary, Bature, claimed that there was never a decision to endorse Turaki as the National Chairman. Bature said while the position was micro-zoned to the North West, leaders of the zone never met to decide on who to be the candidate, adding that it was wrong for Gov. Fintiri to announce a consensus candidate when the zone was not consulted.

    Bature said, “We want to make it clear to everybody that this zone has not adopted anybody as a candidate from this zone for the People’s Democratic Party. There is a lot of resentment due to a lack of consultation among the leaders of this zone. We believe we are the strongest zone in the PDP, and the attitude of our leaders in this regard made us take this position that we disagree with the governor’s position of yesterday, and we are going to have our own candidate that we will nominate for that position. The North West is the zone to which the national chairmanship has been zoned. This position has been determined by other zones, and we feel it is unfair for other zones to determine a particular candidate when this zone has not been consulted. That’s why we are taking this position. He said they can go ahead. Those who are interested in contesting can go ahead to contest. Do you think that’s fair, and is there any need for disagreement when it’s open that you can contest? If it’s open, then why did they adopt somebody else? That would be the question you should have asked him. If it’s an open contest, they should have allowed others to come out and contest. They shouldn’t have just zoned it to one person. If he knew that the chairmanship position had been zoned to the North West, why should he adopt a candidate when he had not met others? Consensus is made by consultation. We have not been consulted.

    The governor himself zoned these positions to the North West. We were supposed to meet yesterday at the instance of the Zamfara governor, who said he was travelling, and that meeting was suspended until today.”

    Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, said, “our great party is a family and like any family, we may have disagreements. It is inevitable, no matter what we do; it’s just a matter of time. But the overall interest of this collective family must supersede individual ambitions. We as leaders remain steadfast in our resolve to provide unbiased and selfless service to consensus and build a convention that is truly all-inclusive”.

    While Bature insisted no consultation was made before arriving at the choice, The Nation was informed that “at the meeting, the governors asked those interested in the Chairmanship position to indicate by raising their hands. Turaki and Senator Ibrahim Shekarau indicated their interest, while Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi told the meeting that Sule Lamido was interested in contesting the position, but was absent at the meeting. The governors asked them to go out and discuss among themselves and come back with their resolution. Makarfi was asked to represent Sule Lamido. We all know that Makarfi was interested, but he did not indicate it, probably because he knew it would be difficult for him to get the position. When they returned, Shekarau said he would stand by whatever decision the governors arrived at, especially if they settled for Turaki. On his part, Turaki said if the governors choose Shakarau, he would abide by the decision.

    “They told the meeting that Lamido had insisted that no matter the decision arrived at, he was going ahead to contest the chairmanship. He claimed that he was asked to contest the position by the northern elders. After that, the governors met to deliberate and settled for Turaki. But Lamido insisted that he would go ahead to contest, which is his right to do. But we all know that you need the governors to win, and they are not comfortable with Lamido. The governors don’t want a man who will not respect them and who will tell them that whatever they are today, he has been there. They don’t want a man who will not answer them anytime they call. That is why they did not settle for Lamido. When the governors settled for Turaki and announced it to the meeting, they called for dissenting voices by asking those who were not at peace with the decision to speak their mind. But nobody said anything. All those who are shouting now were at that meeting. The Chairman of the PDP in Sokoto was at the meeting. He did not object and did not say anything.”

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    Lamido said, “Consensus? If there are consultations, there can be consensus. But if there are no consultations, then we are not united on board. I mean, the zone where I came from, we never met. We were supposed to meet on Wednesday, and the Governor of Zamfara State booked a hall at Transcorp Hilton for us from the Northwest to meet and come up with some kind of understanding. But to pre-empt our meeting, they fixed a meeting for Tuesday. So, we never met. The zone never met. That’s the problem. But it’s not the last one.”

    Future of PDP

    Lamido argued that the PDP must put its house in order if it hopes to make a headway in future elections, saying “the PDP should be able to organise its own house to run the party based on the policies of the party, doing the right thing at all times. The only way we can win is by having a disciplined party. If the party is not organised, if we don’t follow our own constitution and procedures, how do we win elections?

    “How will a non-united party even win elections? So, you see, my main concern is getting the PDP properly restored into a stable, united family that will be able to stay focused on the bigger picture ahead — saving Nigeria and Nigerians from the APC. You see, PDP is a family of wonderful Nigerians who share a similar commitment to Nigeria and democracy. So, coming here is like coming home to the family. There’s nothing new about it.”

    This view is shared by Gov. Lawal of Zamara State. He said, “A great thinker once said. Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much. This word resonates deeply today. We must stand together, we must work together; we must heal together. As you come on this way to your assignment, I pray for divine intervention and wisdom, as well as guidance from each one of you.”

    Inside Wadata Plaza: whispers and wagers

    Inside the PDP secretariat, whispers of betrayal and backroom deals swirl through the corridors. Governors loyal to different factions hold parallel strategy sessions, while some aspirants have begun lobbying for interim compromises—like allowing Damagum to remain as acting chairman until after the 2027 elections.  This could be so since the tenure of the present National Working Committee is due to expire in December, and failure to hold an elective convention may lead to the composition of an Interim leadership for the party, like the APC did when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was removed as National Chairman.

    Others see the convention as a chance to inject fresh blood into the party that can appeal to both old loyalists and disenchanted members. Some believe that Turaki fits the kind of Chairman the PDP needs at this moment because he has not been associated with any of the factions in the party. For many analysts, the November convention represents more than a routine leadership renewal, but a test of the PDP’s capacity to act as a viable opposition ahead of 2027.

    There is no doubt that the stakes are high, and if the exercise produces a widely acceptable leadership, the PDP could begin to rebuild credibility. If it ends in another court battle or boycott, the party’s claim to being an alternative to the APC may evaporate. There are fears that some senior members of the party may stay away unless “agreements reached at zonal meetings are respected.” There are also fears of having parallel delegates and conventions. Some believe that the convention is shaping up as a battle of survival.

    Grassroots discontent

    While national leaders wrestle for control, the party’s grassroots are showing fatigue. In many states, local party offices remain shut or inactive. Funding has dried up, and loyalists complain of neglect. In the South-East and parts of the North-East, some chapters have merged their activities with local pressure groups, effectively operating outside the national structure. Many Lawmakers have abandoned the party, and as of the last count, the party had fewer than 10 federal lawmakers, especially in the House of Representatives from the Southeast East

    The road to Ibadan

    Despite uncertainties, preparations for the convention have been ongoing both in Ibadan and at the National level, where committees have been holding meetings. The Nation gathered that the choice of venue outside Abuja was meant to symbolise inclusiveness and decentralisation. Party sources say over 3,000 delegates are expected, representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    As delegates prepare to gather in Ibadan, one thing is clear: the PDP’s survival will depend less on who wins the chairmanship than on whether the party can rediscover a shared sense of purpose. The dance of musical chairs may continue, but the music cannot play forever. When it stops, those still standing will have to decide—do they rebuild the old house, or walk away in search of a new one? For Nigeria’s oldest surviving political brand, the answer may determine not just its fate, but the quality of the country’s democracy itself.

    But the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja halting the convention has, no doubt, dragged the PDP several miles back. Political watchers are, however, stunned by the decision of the Court asking the party to transmit a genuine letter to INEC informing it of the convention in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act. Curiously, the issue of a letter to the commission was never part of the issues canvassed in Court. Even though the National Secretary of the party denied knowledge of the letter to INEC, claiming his signature was forged, the issue is currently before the security agencies for investigation, and how it became part of the judgment when it was not canvassed in Court has become a subject of discussion.

    The question then is whether the Court has decided to do the work of the police by declaring the letter to INEC as invalid and fake, or whether the commission told the Court that it has not received any genuine letter from the PDP.

    Unending drama

    The drama in the party has continued unabated, with the Federal High Court in Abuja helping the stakeholders to expand the scope of the crisis by halting the national convention and asking the party to first send the INEC what it called a proper letter in accordance with the rules. But the question that many are asking is how the issue of a formal letter entered the case since it was not one of the grounds before the Court. As a result of the court order, the Umar Damagun-led National Working Committee has suspended the National Secretary, National Legal Adviser, his deputy and the National Organising Secretary for their role.

    In turn, the National Secretary and his group suspended the National Chairman and his group, appointing the National Vice Chairman, North Central, as Acting Chairman. The development has placed the PDP national Secretariat under lock and key to prevent a breakdown of law and order, while the staff have been sent away from the place by the security agents.

    Although it is not clear whether Anyanwu and his team informed the INEC about the development in the party, Damagun, on the other hand, has informed the commission and is determined to go ahead with the convention following a ruling of an Ibadan High Court, which has been applauded by state chairmen of the party and the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees. But the suspension and counter suspension in the party has extended beyond the National Working Committee to the Board of Trustees, which is supposed to be the conscience of the party. While Nigerians wait patiently for the party to resolve its internal crisis, the Wike group has seen anyone associated with the Damagun group as enemies of the party who must be done away with. Interestingly, the Board of Trustees is established by Article 18 of the PDP Constitution, while Article 31(2c) gives the National Executive Committee the express power to “take decisions on all matters affecting the party, including the removal or reconstitution of organs of the Party as it may deem necessary.” However, the party constitution only allows the National Working Committee to make recommendations, but only the NEC has the constitutional authority to approve or effect the dissolution and reconstitution of the BoT. In some cases, such ratification may require a national Convention to take effect. It is not clear where the Abdulrahaman Mohammed-led faction derived the power to dissolve and reconstitute the BoT, even without the knowledge of the NEC of the party.

    The question many Nigerians have been asking is whether those beating the drums of war within the PDP are interested in seeing peace in the party. As the drama continues, several stakeholders have chosen to remain silent for fear of not being branded an enemy. The only stakeholder who has spoken up has been former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, who appeared to be on the side of the Wike-led group, and Bode George, who wants the Supreme Court to sanction judges that has chosen to help derail the party, despite a Supreme Court judgement that restricts interference in the internal affairs of political parties. But Mohammed does not see what is going on and the preparation for the national convention of the party as an internal affair of the PDP.

  • PDP crisis: Wike group dissolves Wabara-led BoT

    PDP crisis: Wike group dissolves Wabara-led BoT

    • Picks ex-senator Ohuabunwa as replacement

    • Damagum group continues preparation for Ibadan convention

    The Wike group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday sacked the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) in the latest episode of the crisis rocking the party.

    The group named Senator Mao Ohuabunwa as Wabara’s replacement and Hon. Isah Dansidi as Secretary to take over from Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    It said the dissolution stemmed from the BoT’s “loss of moral authority and political neutrality.”

    But the Umar Damagum group sought to down play the action of the Wike faction.

    It described Abdulrahman Mohammed, who was installed as National Chairman of the rival faction, as an impostor, and insisted that National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, remained suspended.

    It dismissed their moves as a desperate bid to derail the Ibadan national convention.

    The Ohuabunwa-led BoT was immediately inaugurated at an emergency meeting of the Wike group.In attendance were the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Second Republic Governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo; former Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Sam Anyanwu; former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda and other members from across the 36 states and the FCT.

    In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, Ohuabunwa said the shake-up became inevitable following the erosion of neutrality by the previous leadership.

    “The immediate past BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, having publicly taken sides in the ongoing intra-party crisis, could no longer continue to serve in their previous capacities,” he said.

    He explained that the new leadership was chosen in line with the party’s internal balancing formula, with both Wabara and Ohuabunwa hailing from the South, while Makarfi and Dansidi come from the North.

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    The communiqué reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to unity, discipline, and constitutional order, stressing that the party remains “one indivisible, democratic family anchored on justice, equity and progress.

    The new BoT welcomed the October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which barred the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the Ibadan convention of the PDP.

    The group said the judgment was as binding and superior to any interim order of a state court, in apparent reference to this week’s ruling of an Oyo State High Court, which gave the Damagun the nod to proceed with the convention.

    The Wike group asked all organs and officers of the party to comply fully with FHC’s   judgment, and commended the judiciary for “upholding the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.”

    It said: “Prudence and respect for judicial processes demand that the proposed National Convention be postponed until the Court of Appeal delivers its decision.”

    The BoT also pledged to “serve as the conscience and stabilising moral compass of the party,” and offered to mediate among stakeholders to foster harmony and prevent divisive tendencies.

    Earlier, the group’s Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, described the inauguration of the new BoT as a turning point for the party, saying the reconstituted BoT marked “a return to the PDP’s founding values of justice, inclusivity, and respect for the rule of law.”

    Abdulrahman said that under the previous leadership, the party “lost its moral balance” and deviated from its constitutional principles.

    “The previous Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, sadly lost the moral balance expected of that noble institution,” Abdulrahman said.

    “The credibility of that leadership became heavily questioned, and its continued role in national advisory matters became untenable.”

    Abdulrahman accused Damagum of “choosing convenience over constitution and loyalty over legality,” adding that the PDP’s moral compass was compromised by impunity and selective enforcement of party rules.

    According to him, the Federal High Court judgment was not an attack on the PDP but “a wake-up call to return to our roots and restore the order and ideals that made the PDP the pride of African democracy.”

    He charged the new BoT to act as the “moral voice and conscience of the party,” urging them to speak truth to power, defend justice, and promote inclusivity.

    “This is not a reward for loyalty,” he told them, “but a sacred trust, a call to speak truth with courage and guide the party with integrity.”

    Also speaking, Chief Jim Nwobodo, the oldest founding member of the PDP present, appealed to the new leadership to heal divisions and reach out to aggrieved members.

     “PDP is like the ANC of South Africa — it is the mother of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

    “Do all you can to bring about peace in our party. Many who left are willing to return if we open our doors.”

    He praised Minister Wike for his performance in Abuja and urged him to channel the same energy toward rebuilding the party.

    “If you put that same effort into this party, PDP will be the party to beat again,” he said, drawing applause.

    In its resolutions, the BoT reaffirmed its dedication to reconciliation and inclusiveness, urging all members to “act with maturity, mutual respect, and shared commitment to the unity and progress of the party.”

    It stressed that genuine reconciliation, internal democracy and adherence to the constitution remain the bedrock of the PDP’s revival.

    The communique said: “The BoT pledges to continuously uphold its sacred responsibility as the conscience of the PDP by speaking truth with fairness, guiding with integrity, and ensuring that our great party remains a beacon of democracy and hope for the nation”.

    Damagum group: PDP poised to elect new officers, forge unity

    On its part, the Damagum group said it was on course to hold the Ibadan convention on November 15 and 16.

    “With just eight days until the landmark Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig National Elective Convention on November 15-16, 2025, the party is firing on all cylinders, ready to elect a dynamic new National Working Committee (NWC) and solidify its unbreakable unity as Nigeria’s premier opposition force gears up for a triumphant return in 2027,” it said in a statement on its verified X account yesterday.

    Continuing, the party said over 3,000 delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are scheduled to participate in the event.

    It said: “This two-day spectacle is more than a leadership transition—it’s a bold declaration of renewal, reconciliation and resilience, positioning the PDP to dismantle the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s grip on power and restore hope to millions of Nigerians weary of economic hardship, insecurity and governance failures.

    “This convention will not only install a refreshed NWC but also heal divides, amplify diverse voices, and chart a roadmap to victory in 2027.”

    In a separate statement, the Damagum group insisted that Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature and Kamaldeen Ajibade remained suspended as national secretary, national organising secretary and national legal adviser respectively.

    It described Abdulrahman Mohammed, Vice Chairman (North Central), as an impostor and illegitimate claimant of the position of Acting National Chairman.

    It added: “This decisive stance underscores the party’s unwavering commitment to constitutional discipline and unity as it prepares toward the unifying National Elective Convention, #Ibadan2025, on November 15-16.

    “The suspensions, imposed on November 1, 2025, following an emergency NWC meeting, were enacted under Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h), and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), citing grave constitutional infractions and actions detrimental to the party’s progress.

    “These measures, also extending to Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, remain in full force for one month, with the affected officers referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further review.

    “In view of the foregoing, the PDP has formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of these actions, ensuring compliance with the decision of the NWC which the electoral body has acknowledged.

    “The PDP NWC remains indivisible under Ambassador Damagum’s legitimate leadership, with 14 of 17 members standing firm against this charade.

    Anyanwu, Bature, Ajibade, and their co-conspirators, including the self-proclaimed ‘Acting Chairman’ Abdulrahman Mohammed, are illegitimate actors whose desperate maneuvers, fueled by personal ambitions and APC proxies, will not fracture the PDP’s resolve.”

  • Ekiti PDP Gov aspirant alleges manipulation of delegates’ list

    Ekiti PDP Gov aspirant alleges manipulation of delegates’ list

    Ekiti PA governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilayo Theresa Ogun, has raised the alarm over what she described as “a brazen manipulation” of the delegates’ list ahead of the party’s primary election. 

    Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, on Friday, Ogun expressed disappointment over the alleged substitution of authentic delegates who emerged from the ad-hoc congresses held on  October 20, 2025, with those she claimed neither obtained nomination forms nor participated in the exercise.

    Ogun, who hails from Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, described the incident as “a calculated attempt by some spineless men within the party to frustrate my ambition and undermine the will of the people.”

    “We were all present at the party secretariat when the delegate congress was held. INEC officials observed the process, and everything was properly documented. 

    “But to my shock, when the list was released early this morning, my name and those of many legitimate delegates had been completely removed even in my own ward where I am a delegate,” she alleged. 

    The governorship hopeful claimed the names of those lawfully elected during the delegate congresses were replaced with individuals unknown to the process, describing “the development as not only shameful but also undemocratic.”

    “Before you can participate in a congress, you must obtain a nomination form. For people who never bought forms to now appear as winners on the official list is the height of impunity,” Ogun stated.

    The aspirant accused certain party leaders of deliberately tampering with the list out of fear of her growing popularity at the grassroots, especially as a female contender in a male-dominated race.

    “They are intimidated by my rising support across the 16 local government areas. I don’t have godfathers or access to dollars to bribe anyone, but I have the genuine backing of the people. That’s why they are resorting to manipulation. Let them release the correct list and meet me on the field, I will defeat them all,” she declared. 

    The former Work Commissioner called on Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Ojo Amupitan, to resist any attempt to legitimise the alleged doctored list. 

    She urged the commission to maintain its neutrality and decline to monitor any primary election based on the altered names.

    While acknowledging that INEC has limited power over internal party affairs, Ogun stressed that the commission has a moral duty to protect democratic integrity.

    The aspirant disclosed that she had already petitioned INEC and the PDP National Secretariat, attaching certified true copies of the authentic congress results observed by INEC officials. 

    She added that her legal team had been briefed to explore all lawful means of redress, vowed to seek legal remedy if the PDP leadership fails to address the situation before the primary.

    “I followed all due process, obtained my forms, and mobilized supporters across the state. If the party refuses to correct this illegality, we will not hesitate to go to court,” she said. 

    Chairman of the Forum of PDP Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti, Oluyemi Ajanaku, corroborated Ogun’s claims, describing the development as “worrisome, disgraceful, and dangerous to the party’s unity.”

    Ajanaku warned that the manipulation, if unchecked, could worsen the internal crisis within the party and jeopardize its chances in the coming governorship election.

    “Ekiti is winnable for PDP if we remain united. But how do you convince loyal members to stay committed when their names are arbitrarily removed from the delegates’ list?” he queried.