By Our Correspondent
National News – Delegates aligned with Nyesom Wike on Sunday installed a new National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party during the party’s 2026 National Convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome in Abuja.
The convention, which attracted over 2,500 delegates from several states including Kebbi, Ekiti, Bauchi and Benue, affirmed 19 officials to manage the party’s affairs for the next four years.
However, the gathering also exposed lingering divisions within the opposition party as some state chapters boycotted the exercise.
Under the party’s constitution, the National Working Committee (NWC) serves as the highest administrative body responsible for implementing party decisions and coordinating national operations.
At the convention, delegates endorsed Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman. Other officials include Aaron Chukwuemeka as Deputy National Chairman (South) and Yusufu Akirikwen as Deputy National Chairman (North). Samuel Anyanwu was confirmed as National Secretary.
Additional positions filled include National Treasurer, National Organising Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, Youth Leader, Women Leader and other deputies, bringing the total number of NWC members to 19.
Despite the turnout, the convention reflected internal divisions within the PDP.
Delegates from states such as Benue and Ekiti attended the event, while some chapters, including Edo and parts of Sokoto, boycotted the gathering over disputes regarding the legality of the convention.
The Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, described the convention as illegal, citing a pending case before the Supreme Court of Nigeria and urging party members to stay away.
However, prominent party leaders present at the convention called for reconciliation and unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
These leaders included former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu and former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido.
Saraki stated that the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the venue validated the process and urged party members who were still undecided to join the rebuilding efforts.
Similarly, Wike praised party members for remaining loyal despite the prolonged leadership crisis.
He said the convention marked the beginning of the party’s renewal and pledged that the PDP would be rebuilt on inclusiveness, unity and internal democracy.
The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis for nearly three years, resulting in rival factions and competing conventions.
A previous convention held in Ibadan by another faction was later invalidated by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria for breaching the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
Despite ongoing legal battles and reconciliation talks, the Wike-aligned faction proceeded with the Abuja convention, installing a new leadership team tasked with repositioning the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
