As governors in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party distanced themselves from the consensual pick of a national chairman and secretary by the side supported by Nyesom Wike, demanding legal recourse and a review of the process, the crisis rocking the party grew deeper on Tuesday.
This is due to the fact that Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed, who are supported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, emerged as consensus candidates for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the development, reputable senior PDP members who supported the governors’ National Working Committee, headed by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), declared that they would take all necessary legal action to guarantee that the crisis is resolved in their favor.
Prior to the March 29–30 National Convention, all geopolitical zones had agreed on consensus candidates for NWC positions, according to a Tuesday exclusive interview with very high-ranking members of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak on the subject.
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According to the insiders, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed have emerged as the PDP’s consensus choices for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively, with Wike’s support.
Following an internal struggle that lasted almost a year, the PDP split into two rival groups.
Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other officials were elected to the National Working Committee in a convention held on November 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, by the governors’ camp, which was supported by Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State).
In response, the Wike-led group formed a 13-person National Caretaker Working Committee in December, designating Mohammed as Acting National Chairman and Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, together with other members, to manage the party for sixty days while a substantive convention was being held.
Consolidated lawsuits resulting from the leadership crisis were considered by the Court of Appeal on February 12 and a ruling was rendered on March 9.
A panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma upheld a previous decision made by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which concluded that the procedures leading up to the Ibadan convention violated the PDP Constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
As a result, the court ruled that the convention was void and that Turaki’s and the other NWC members’ elections were unlawful.
In a parallel development, a different Court of Appeal panel in Ibadan, headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill, gave all parties the chance to try to reach a mutually agreeable settlement.
Despite recent gestures of healing from both sides, new positions taken by the governors and ongoing disputes over the convention suggest that peace efforts may have stagnated.
According to a source close to the governors, the reconciliation efforts failed because the Wike-aligned PDP party was adamant about holding the convention.
“You see, the attempts at reconciliation have failed,” he said. We expressed our willingness to engage in discourse, but the Wike group asked that our people attend the convention by purchasing forms and running.
In our opinion, the convention process is both unlawful and seriously deficient. Together, we are committed to investigating every legal option and seeking a different legal solution to the problem.
“We will thoroughly examine the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, the party’s constitution, and the Electoral Act, among other relevant issues, and take the necessary actions to safeguard the party and guarantee that our members have a strong platform to run on.
As you can see, the NWC had a successful four-hour meeting today (Tuesday). The meeting will resume tomorrow.
At the NWC meeting at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, Ini Ememobong, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, declined to comment on the ruling.
He merely said that the meeting would resume on Wednesday (today), following which the party would discuss the matter.
However, a source close to Wike disclosed that his group assigned the roles of National Secretary to the South and National Chairman to the North-Central, and that zonal leaders were instructed to convene and reach a consensus on nominees for every NWC post.
He also said that he was the North-West’s unanimous choice for National Organizing Secretary.
The source went on, “The zonal meeting this afternoon confirmed that the status quo will be maintained in the North-West.” Kano becomes Deputy Treasurer, Katsina becomes National Youth Leader, and Sokoto stays National Organizing Secretary. The Zonal Vice Chairman is chosen by Jigawa. By consensus, all positions were accepted.
As of right now, South-East also keeps Senator Anyanwu’s National Secretary in Imo State. Okechukwu Osuoha, a former Deputy Legal Adviser, has been appointed Auditor. Chidebere is currently Deputy Public Secretary after serving as Vice Chairman of the South East National.
The roles in the Southwest have been assigned as follows: Zonal Vice Chairman to Lagos, Woman Leader to Oyo, Treasurer to Osun, and Deputy Secretary to Ekiti. The Deputy-Chairman North travels to Taraba in the Northeast, the Deputy Financial Secretary to Borno, the Publicity Secretary to Bauchi, and the Deputy Woman Leader to Gombe. Adamawa was given the position of Zonal Vice-Chair.
“For the South-South, the Deputy National Organizing Secretary goes to Delta, the National Vice-Chairman South to Rivers, the Financial Secretary to Cross River, and the Deputy Youth Leader to Akwa Ibom. The National Vice Chairman then went from South-South to Edo.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, the acting national chairman, was chosen as the zone’s consensus candidate, according to a trustworthy source who was present at the North-Central caucus meeting.
According to the source, Wike allegedly asked Philip Salawu, the former deputy governor of Kogi State, and Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, to resign for Mohammed.
The North-Central zone agreed to produce the National Chairman at the meeting’s conclusion tonight. Given that the Secretary post was located in the South-East, religion also played a role. They wanted the National Chairman to be a Muslim because they expected the candidate to be a Christian.
Furthermore, the party’s National Leader, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, urged former Kogi State Deputy Governor and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to resign so that Abdulrahman Mohammed, the current Acting National Chairman, could become the unanimous choice.
Consequently, Abdulrahman Mohammed was declared the consensus candidate for National Chairman at the upcoming PDP national convention at the North-Central meeting today. The decision also took into account the opinion that he had done a good job in the acting post and gained the backing of stakeholders and zonal leaders.
Jungudo Mohammed, the PDP Publicity Secretary, who supports Wike, did neither confirm or refute the claim when contacted.
He stated that the National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and other party officials had good reason to pursue consensus as the best course of action for the party.
“In our opinion, reaching a consensus is the best course of action when it comes to bringing forth candidates, whether they are from a party or a primary, whether it is an intraparty working committee, an election, or a primary election for the goal of guiding people into elective posts.
When you reach a consensus, it indicates that all parties involved—aspirants and stakeholders—have given their consent rather than being imposed. It also saves a great deal of time, money, and hostility when the election process is eliminated. Thus, it’s the best option. The party is not incorrect, in my opinion.
“The party leaders are correct. Additionally, the party’s NEC was correct when it suggested that the different regions use consensus to choose party leaders.
Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate, has also warned the PDP leadership, which is supported by the FCT minister, not to hold another factional convention.
He cautioned that doing so might further split the party.
Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that both sides had already agreed to pursue a unification convention before to the latest Court of Appeal ruling, characterizing the plan as a grave threat to the PDP’s survival and unity.
He claimed that the actions of a “fifth columnist,” who reportedly undermined efforts in order to further outside interests, were what caused the reconciliation process to go awry.
“I implore the Wike faction to uphold the previously negotiated gentleman’s agreement. This concerns the PDP’s survival and integrity, according to Olawepo-Hashim.
The PDP leader also cautioned against purported attempts to interfere with state chapter executive committees, especially in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Kano States, pointing out that doing so would be against the party’s charter.
He warned against transplanting the national leadership crisis into otherwise stable state organizations, arguing that the terms of state executives are set and cannot be arbitrarily changed.
Raymond Dabo (Plateau), Adamu Ninga (Nasarawa), Edward Masha (Kaduna), and Yusuf Kibiya (Kano) are the legitimate state chairmen in the impacted states, according to Olawepo-Hashim, who insisted that their mandates be honored.
In states where there are no internal conflicts, he cautioned that establishing rival institutions could exacerbate the problem and erode the party’s unity before upcoming elections.
The former presidential candidate also warned that important players in the ongoing conflict run the risk of becoming political losers if they don’t settle their differences and rigorously follow a framework for power-sharing and harmonizing the National Working Committees of the opposing factions.
Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that any factional convention would ultimately result in “a lose-lose outcome for the party” and urged all parties involved to return to the negotiating table and complete work on a unified leadership structure.
He restated that the PDP’s only chance to reclaim its power, legitimacy, and electoral competitiveness is through unification.
Making amends
Chibudom Nwuche, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, has urged harmony and reconciliation within the party.
Before the 2027 general elections, he called on all resentful party officials and members to put aside their disagreements and embrace peace for the party’s ultimate benefit.
Following the party’s 107th National Executive Committee meeting on Monday in Abuja, the former deputy speaker made this statement.
In front of the national convention later this week, he asked stakeholders to rejoin the PDP and benefit from the current reconciliation and consolidation.
“Senators, members of the House of Representatives, former governors, ministers, legislators, important stakeholders, and party executives from the National and State levels attended our party’s 107th NEC meeting yesterday (Monday), which was led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike,” he said.
In particular, Nwuche urged governors and other party leaders to “bury the hatchet and embrace sincere reconciliation,” stressing that the party’s internal unity and coherence remained its greatest assets as it gets ready for upcoming elections.
Nwuche advised Tanimu Turaki (SAN), the head of the executive committee that resulted from the Ibadan convention, to refrain from further delaying the reconciliation process by pursuing previously resolved matters in court.
“Enough of legal disputes and division. In light of the next general elections in 2027, it is imperative that we put an end to ongoing legal disputes and unite to create a unified front.
“Unity, trust, and a shared commitment to repositioning and strengthening our party are essential for the task at hand. “There are times to fight and times to live in peace,” he declared.
He also made a plea to the BoT, which is headed by Senator Adolphus Wabara, asking its members and leadership to put the party’s unity and peace first.
He claimed that the PDP’s stability and electoral prospects are being threatened by the current polarization among party members, which is unproductive.
“In the best interests of the People’s Democratic Party and Nigeria at large, we must embrace reconciliation as a shared obligation.
“For the sake of our party and the millions of Nigerians who look to us for leadership, I am pleading with all prominent PDP leaders to embrace reconciliation and move forward as one indivisible family,” he stated.
The former deputy speaker added that a timely and strategic forum to deepen these attempts at reconciliation is provided by the PDP national convention, which is set for March 29 in Abuja. He asked party officials and participants to view the convention as a pivotal opportunity to mend rifts, reassert unity, and establish a shared course for the future rather than just as a typical meeting.
He contends that the convention needs to be a focal point for fostering agreement and reaffirming the party’s commitment to its common goal.
He emphasized that the party’s reconciliation must be deliberate, all-encompassing, and directed by well-defined areas of involvement.
In order to further the interests of the PDP and Nigeria as a whole, the statement ended with a fresh appeal for all party members to embrace communication, reconciliation, and a shared goal.
