The opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s crisis grew deeper on Tuesday as party governors distanced themselves from the Nyesom Wike-backed faction’s consensus choice of a national chairman and secretary, demanding legal action and a reassessment of the procedure.
With the support of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed emerged as consensus candidates for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively.
Reputable senior PDP members who support the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which is supported by the governors, stated that they would use all legal options to make sure the situation is resolved in their favor. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the development.
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 permitted to speak on the subject.
According to the insiders, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed have become the PDP’s consensus choices for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively, with Wike’s support.
The PDP split into two rival factions during an internal dispute that lasted for over a year.
To make matters worse, on November 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governors’ camp, supported by Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), held a convention where Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other officials were elected to the National Working Committee.
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 in addition to other members to manage the party for 60 days while a substantive convention was being held.
The Court of Appeal heard combined lawsuits related to the leadership crisis on February 12 and rendered a decision on March 9.
An earlier decision from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which concluded that the procedures leading up to the Ibadan convention violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Constitution, was upheld by a panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma.
As a result, the court ruled that the convention was void and that Turaki and other NWC members had not been elected.
In a related development, all parties were given the chance to seek an amicable settlement by a different Court of Appeal panel in Ibadan, which was presided over by Justice Biobele Georgewill.
The governors’ new stances and ongoing disputes over the convention suggest that peace efforts may have stopped, despite the fact that both sides had lately showed signs of reconciliation.
The reconciliation efforts failed because the Wike-aligned PDP side was adamant about holding the convention, according to a source in the governors’ camp.
“You see, the reconciliation efforts have collapsed,” 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 for office during talks with the other camp.
“We believe that the convention process is both illegal and seriously flawed. Together, we’re committed to investigating every legal avenue 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 pertinent 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 convened for around four hours on Tuesday, and it was a fruitful meeting. Tomorrow, the meeting will resume.
At the National Working Committee 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 only said that the party would discuss the matter once the meeting continued on Wednesday, which is today.
Wike’s group, however, zoned the roles of National Chairman to the North-Central and National Secretary to the South, according to a source in his camp. Zonal leaders were also instructed to convene and reach a consensus on nominees for all NWC positions.
He also revealed that he was the North-West’s unanimous choice for the post of National Organizing Secretary.
“The zonal meeting held this afternoon confirmed that the status quo will be maintained in the North-West,” the insider went on. Katsina becomes the National Youth Leader, Kano becomes the Deputy Treasurer, and Sokoto continues to serve as the National Organizing Secretary. The Zonal Vice Chairman was chosen by Jigawa. Every stance was reached by consensus.
As of right now, South-East also keeps Senator Anyanwu’s National Secretary in Imo State. Okechukwu Osuoha, a former Deputy Legal Advisor, is now an Auditor. Former South East National Vice Chairman Chidebere is currently the Deputy Public Secretary.
The following posts have been assigned in the Southwest: Treasurer to Osun, Deputy Secretary to Ekiti, Zonal Vice Chairman to Lagos, and Woman Leader to Oyo. The Deputy-Chairman North travels to Taraba, the Publicity Secretary to Bauchi, the Deputy Woman Leader to Gombe, and the Deputy Financial Secretary to Borno in the Northeast. Adamawa was designated as the Zonal Vice-Chairman.
The National Vice-Chairman South travels to Rivers, the Financial Secretary to Cross River, the Deputy National Organizing Secretary to Delta, and the Deputy Youth Leader to Akwa Ibom for the South-South. Next, from South-South to Edo, the National Vice Chairman
According to a trustworthy source who was present at the North-Central caucus meeting, Abdulrahman Mohammed, the acting national chairman, was chosen as the zone’s consensus candidate.
According to the source, Wike allegedly asked former Kogi State Deputy Governor Philip Salawu and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to resign in favor of Mohammed.
The North-Central zone agreed to produce the National Chairman at the end of the meeting 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 assumed the candidate would otherwise be a Christian.
Additionally, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and former Kogi State Deputy Governor Nyesom Wike, the party’s National Leader and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, urged them 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 in the next PDP national convention during tonight’s North-Central meeting. The decision also took into account the opinion that he had done a good job in the acting post, winning the backing of stakeholders and zonal leaders.
The Wike-backed PDP Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, did not confirm or refute the news when contacted for comment.
He stated that reaching a consensus was the best course of action for the party and that the National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and other party officials had good reason to do so.
“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 through an intraparty working committee, an election, or a primary election with the aim of guiding candidates into elected posts.
As opposed to imposition, consensus indicates the agreement of all parties involved, including the stakeholders and the candidates. Additionally, eliminating the voting process saves a great deal of time, money, and hostility. It is therefore the optimal course of action. Furthermore, I believe the party is correct.
“The party’s leaders are correct. Additionally, the party’s NEC was correct to encourage the various regions to elect party leaders by consensus.
Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential contender, has warned the PDP leadership, which is supported by the FCT minister, not to have another factional convention.
He cautioned that the party might become much more divided.
Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that both parties had previously decided to pursue a unification convention before to the current Court of Appeal ruling, characterizing the proposal as a major threat to the PDP’s survival and unity.
He claimed that the actions of a “fifth columnist,” who reportedly disrupted efforts in pursuit of outside objectives, were what caused the reconciliation process to go awry.
“I implore the Wike faction to honor the gentleman’s agreement that has already been reached. Olawepo-Hashim stated, “This is about the PDP’s integrity and existence.
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 constitution.
He warned against transplanting the national leadership crisis into otherwise stable state organizations, arguing that state executives’ terms are set and cannot be changed arbitrarily.
Olawepo-Hashim insisted that their mandates be honored and named Raymond Dabo (Plateau), Adamu Ninga (Nasarawa), Edward Masha (Kaduna), and Yusuf Kibiya (Kano) as the legitimate state chairmen in the impacted states.
Prior to upcoming elections, he cautioned that enforcing alternative structures in states without internal conflicts could exacerbate the problem and erode the party’s unity.
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 strictly 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 finish work on a unified leadership structure.
He reaffirmed that the PDP’s best chance to reclaim its power, legitimacy, and electoral competitiveness is through unification.
Reconciliation
Chibudom Nwuche, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged harmony and reconciliation within the party.
Before the 2027 general elections, he called on all resentful party leaders and members to put aside their differences and embrace peace for the benefit of the party as a whole.
Following the party’s 107th National Executive Committee meeting, which took place in Abuja on Monday, the former deputy speaker made this statement.
In advance of the national convention later this week, he invited interested parties to rejoin the PDP and capitalize on the ongoing reconciliation and consolidation.
“Under the direction of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we held our party’s 107th NEC meeting yesterday (Monday). Senators, members of the House of Representatives, former governors, ministers, legislators, important stakeholders, and party executives from the National and State levels were in attendance,” 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 cohesiveness and unity 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 delaying the reconciliation process by pursuing previously resolved disputes.
“Enough of court cases, enough of 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 shared front.
“Unity, trust, and a shared commitment to repositioning and strengthening our party are now necessary for the work at hand. He declared, “There are times to fight and times for peace.”
Additionally, he urged the leadership and members of the BoT, which is headed by Senator Adolphus Wabara, to put the party’s unity and peace first.
He claims that the current polarization among party members is detrimental to the PDP’s stability and election chances.
“In the best interests of the People’s Democratic Party and Nigeria overall, 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 declared.
The PDP national convention, which is set for March 29 in Abuja, offers a timely and strategic forum to deepen these attempts at reconciliation, the former deputy speaker added. He urged 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 standard meeting.
He believes that the convention needs to be a focal point for reaching an agreement and reaffirming the party’s commitment to its common goal.
He emphasized that party reconciliation had to 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, peacemaking, and a shared goal.
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