PDP crisis deepens as Wike-backed faction fixes fresh national convention for march

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified as a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), fixed March 28 and 29 for a national convention in Abuja to elect new members of the national working committee (NWC).

The dates were approved on Monday during a national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the faction held in Abuja.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the group praised a recent judgement of the federal high court in Ibadan, Oyo State, which nullified the PDP’s November 15 national convention. The NEC expressed “absolute confidence” in the judiciary, describing the ruling as a reinforcement of the rule of law.

According to the communiqué, ward and local government congresses will take place in February, while state congresses will be conducted ahead of the national convention scheduled for March in Abuja.

The NEC also approved the extension of the tenure of the national caretaker working committee (NCWC) led by Abdulrahman Muhammed, as well as other caretaker panels at state and zonal levels, pending the conduct of the congresses.

Calling for unity within the party, the NEC urged members to remain disciplined and loyal to the PDP, warning against actions capable of further weakening party cohesion.

“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,” the communiqué said.

It added that the PDP remains committed to rebuilding a strong, democratic, and electorally competitive party capable of providing credible leadership and governance to Nigerians.

The development comes amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the opposition party. In November 2025, a rival PDP faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed held a separate national convention in Ibadan, where Kabiru Turaki emerged as national chairman.

That convention followed conflicting court judgements, with some federal high courts in Abuja stopping the exercise over alleged breaches of the party’s constitution and electoral laws, while an Oyo State high court cleared the PDP to proceed and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor it.
Opposed to the Ibadan convention, the Wike-backed faction later constituted a parallel NWC, board of trustees (BoT), and NEC.

In December, INEC declined to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing the existence of multiple court rulings on the PDP’s leadership crisis.