Wike-backed PDP fixes date for another Convention after notification of Ibadan Convention

Wike-backed PDP fixes date for another Convention after notification of Ibadan Convention

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to conduct fresh elections into the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), fixing March 28 and 29 for the exercise.

The decision was reached on Monday at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held by the faction in Abuja. According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the group welcomed a recent judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, which nullified the PDP’s national convention held on November 15.

The NEC praised the court’s ruling, describing it as a reaffirmation of the rule of law, and expressed “absolute” confidence in the independence of the judiciary.

As part of the roadmap toward the planned national convention, the party disclosed that ward and local government congresses would take place in February, followed by state congresses ahead of the national convention scheduled for March in Abuja.

The meeting also approved the extension of the tenure of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) chaired by Abdulrahman Muhammed, as well as caretaker structures at the state and zonal levels, pending the completion of the congresses.

In its communiqué, the NEC urged party members across the country to maintain unity and discipline, warning against actions capable of deepening divisions within the PDP.

Members were encouraged to prioritise the collective interest of the party over personal ambitions.

The faction further reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning the PDP as a disciplined, democratic, and electorally competitive opposition capable of offering credible leadership to Nigerians.

The latest development comes amid a prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP.

In November 2025, another faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed held a national convention in Ibadan, where new national officers were elected, with Kabiru Turaki emerging as national chairman.

That convention was preceded by conflicting court rulings, including orders from Federal High Courts in Abuja restraining the exercise over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and electoral laws.

However, a state high court in Oyo cleared the convention and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor it.

The Wike-aligned faction, which opposed the Ibadan convention, subsequently constituted parallel party organs, including its own NWC, Board of Trustees, and NEC.

In December, INEC declined to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing multiple and subsisting court judgements.