The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is witnessing a major internal showdown as the Wike-backed faction pushes ahead with its national convention scheduled for March 29–30, 2026, despite ongoing legal disputes.
The PDP National Caretaker Committee, led by Acting National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been formally notified of the planned event.
In a statement to the press, National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed, along with committee member Okechukwu Osuoha, emphasized that the party is committed to a fully inclusive convention aimed at electing new leadership to guide PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the Seyi Makinde-supported PDP faction, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), strongly opposes the move.
National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong described the Wike faction’s convention as “futile,” citing that the group was expelled from the party and therefore lacks legal authority to convene such an event.
The discord dates back to November 15, 2025, when the PDP national convention in Ibadan, endorsed by governors including Makinde and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, elected Turaki and the National Working Committee for a four-year term.
A Federal High Court in Ibadan later annulled that convention on January 30, 2026, and prohibited Turaki and others from representing themselves as national officers.
Efforts to reconcile both factions, including a meeting at Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, ended in chaos and physical clashes.
Subsequently, the PDP National Headquarters was sealed by police, further deepening the divide.
Despite the legal challenges, the Wike-aligned caretaker committee remains resolute.
Osuoha confirmed that all procedural steps in line with the PDP Constitution and the Electoral Act will be observed, asserting that the party’s extensive nationwide structure, covering all 774 local governments, ensures broad participation.
As the PDP prepares for its March 29–30 convention, legal battles continue in the Appeal Court, leaving the party’s national leadership contest hanging in uncertainty.
Both factions are still seeking official recognition from INEC, with the outcome likely to influence PDP’s strategy for the 2027 general elections.
