National convention: PDP govs reject Wike-backed committee’s attempt to restructure party

The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Tuesday as governors elected on the party’s platform opposed moves by a caretaker committee aligned with Nyesom Wike to reschedule the party’s national convention and dissolve key zonal committees, arguing that the faction lacked constitutional authority to make such decisions.

The Wike-backed caretaker committee, supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, announced that the national convention—originally scheduled for March 28—would now hold on March 29–30. The committee also dissolved the Southwest, North-West, and Plateau zonal committees, pledging to appoint caretaker structures in their place.

In response, PDP governors including Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), who support the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), rejected the caretaker committee’s actions, stating the group lacks the power to organize conventions or dissolve zonal committees. Turaki’s NWC described the Wike-aligned faction’s moves as “self-deception” and confirmed plans to appeal the Federal High Court ruling that annulled the party’s November 2025 Ibadan convention.

The Turaki-led NWC has maintained that the Ibadan convention—which elected Turaki and other NWC members for a four-year term—was legally conducted in line with the PDP constitution. Party staff, including the management of the PDP Secretariat, reaffirmed loyalty to the Turaki-led leadership, stating that courts have no jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties. They also cited compliance with section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which requires only notification to INEC for conventions to be valid.

Governor Makinde, speaking at the commissioning of a new PDP Secretariat in Ibadan, reiterated that the party would not allow “vagabonds” to undermine its unity. He expressed confidence that the judiciary would rule in the PDP’s favor in ongoing legal disputes, stressing that the truth will ultimately prevail over falsehoods.

In reaction, Wike dismissed Makinde’s remarks, describing him as politically inconsistent and warning that he may return to previous disruptive tendencies. Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Chimenem Wodi, a Wike ally in Rivers State, defended the minister’s political influence, noting that Wike controls local government chairmen and key state assembly members. Wodi emphasized Wike’s role in strengthening the party in Rivers State, citing President Bola Tinubu’s recognition of Wike as the state’s political leader.

The standoff underscores the deepening divisions within the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections, as both factions continue to vie for control of the party’s leadership and structures.