The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) internal crisis took a sharp turn on Friday when a faction supporting Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike declared the dissolution of the party’s Board of Trustees, which was headed by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara.
According to reports, the statement was made during a meeting where Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, the factional Acting National Chairman, established a new BoT at Wike’s Life Camp mansion in Abuja.
Muhammad stated that the dissolution was required to restore moral guidance and constitutional order within the party before the gathering entered a closed session.
He maintained that Wabara’s continued leadership was “untenable” due to his reported suspension by the Abia State PDP for anti-party activities, accusing the Wabara-led BoT of losing the “moral balance expected of that noble institution.”
“The Board, which was supposed to serve as our party’s moral compass, became split and ineffectual. It became impossible to maintain that leadership’s role in national advisory matters since its legitimacy was seriously questioned, he added.
At the conclusion of the conference, the recently reorganized BoT is anticipated to be introduced.
Muhammad further accused Ambassador Umar Damagum, the suspended National Chairman, of undermining internal discipline.
He claimed that Damagum chose “convenience over the rule of law” by shielding those who flagrantly broke the party’s constitution.
“Any political party loses the very soul that keeps it together when it starts to ignore its own laws and constitution. We had to deal with this terrible truth,” he said.
He said that the recent Federal High Court decision had made it possible for the party to reorganize the BoT and commended three party members for seeking legal intervention to “save the PDP from itself.”
“The court ruling was a reminder that no institution is greater than the law; it was not an attack on the PDP,” he stated.
“New BoT Is a Symbol of Rebirth” Wike’s Camp Muhammad called the recently established board a “symbol of rebirth,” claiming that its members were selected on the basis of honesty, equity, and dedication to party principles rather than allegiance to a particular group.
“This is a sacred trust; it is not a reward for loyalty,” he added. Your actions must instill faith in our shared future, your voices must be united, and your counsel must be grounded in justice.
He claimed that the party’s downfall started when it abandoned its zoning principle in advance of the 2015 elections, putting selfish ambition ahead of equity.
In an effort to regain public trust, the factional chairman pledged that the PDP will now place a higher priority on internal democracy, judicial compliance, and openness.
“We will rebuild this party with transparency,” Muhammad said. The rule of law and court rulings shall be respected. We’ll hold fair and honest congresses. We shall rebuild public confidence and establish the PDP as the ethical voice of Nigerian democracy once more.
Muhammad emphasized that the days of using “internal affairs” to conceal lawlessness were passed.
“Internal affairs must still operate under constitutional order,” he declared. Lawlessness cannot be equated with party autonomy. Reform is necessary or else we run the risk of becoming irrelevant.
Muhammad urged party members to take advantage of the opportunity to revitalize the PDP and called for unity and change.
“Let history record that when the PDP stood at the edge of the precipice, men and women of goodwill rose to pull it back,” he continued. By working together, we can mend our party and make the PDP the real hope for Nigeria’s democratic future.
