The internal crisis unsettling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Tuesday as the party’s two principal factions advanced opposing claims to the leadership structure following a decisive Court of Appeal ruling.
The camp associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, asserted that it now holds firm control of the party’s organisational machinery and will only engage in negotiations from what it described as a position of strength. By contrast, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), aligned with the faction linked to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, formally rejected the appellate court’s decision to invalidate the 2025 National Convention, even as it moved to set up a committee tasked with advancing reconciliation across the party.
Addressing the 106th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting convened by the faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed in Abuja, Wike adopted a combative tone while referring to Monday’s judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the current caretaker arrangement.
The minister brushed aside appeals for the establishment of a fresh caretaker committee intended to placate dissatisfied party members. According to him, preparations for the forthcoming National Convention have progressed substantially, with the venue already secured and the required payments completed.
Wike also challenged his opponents to present clear and transparent proposals during discussions, cautioning against what he characterised as back-channel negotiations conducted at odd hours. He used the opportunity to defend his participation in the federal administration led by the ruling All Progressives Congress, stating that he remains a loyal member of the PDP. The minister added that several of those criticising his role had themselves defected from the party.
Meanwhile, the PDP Board of Trustees, widely regarded as the party’s moral authority, convened an expanded emergency session to deliberate on the legal uncertainty generated by the March 9 judgment.
A communiqué delivered by BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, conveyed the board’s strong disagreement with the appellate court’s decision that invalidated the National Working Committee associated with Turaki.
Despite the dispute, the BoT resolved to take advantage of a reconciliation window referenced by the Court of Appeal’s Ibadan Division.
As part of that initiative, the board announced the formation of a special committee that will engage with legal representatives and other stakeholders. The committee has been assigned the responsibility of pursuing measures capable of restoring the party to what the communiqué described as “good political health” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tensions remain high as both sides grapple with the consequences of the court’s intervention. House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda described the judgment as a lifeline for the PDP and predicted that it would encourage many former members to return to the party.
At the same time, the Wabara-led BoT pointed to a noticeable rise in nationwide electronic membership registration, which it said reflects sustained public interest in the PDP.
During the meeting, the board also approved the appointment of Muazu Babangida Aliyu as its new Secretary. It further commended the commitment of two PDP governors, Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, whose roles in ongoing party discussions were acknowledged by the trustees.
While the Wike camp maintains that the court ruling has settled the leadership question, the Board of Trustees continues to call on members to set aside personal ambitions in the interest of unity. The party’s immediate direction now hinges largely on whether the newly constituted reconciliation mechanism can ease tensions and stabilise the organisation before the next electoral cycle.
