Wike-aligned PDP faction urges unity during the party’s BoT meeting as leaders address the ongoing PDP leadership crisis and prepare for the national convention

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with Nyesom Wike on Wednesday called for unity among party members as it convened the party’s 86th Board of Trustees meeting amid the ongoing PDP leadership crisis.

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Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mao Ohuabunwa, described the gathering as a critical moment for the party and urged members to remain calm, respect the party’s constitution and stay committed to its founding values.

Mao Ohuabunwa said the Board of Trustees serves as the guardian of the party’s integrity and guiding principles, stressing that party elders must play a stabilising role during the current tensions.

The BoT chairman noted that recent ward and local government congresses conducted across Nigeria were peaceful and transparent, demonstrating the party’s continued commitment to internal democracy and grassroots participation.

Mao Ohuabunwa added that the state congresses scheduled for the weekend would further strengthen the party’s organisational structure nationwide.

Attention at the meeting also focused on preparations for the party’s national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, which leaders say will provide an opportunity for the PDP to reorganise and reaffirm its commitment to democratic governance and national service.

On the legal front, Mao Ohuabunwa referenced a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, which he said affirmed the authority of the National Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

According to the BoT chairman, the judgment has provided clarity and helped stabilise the party’s leadership structure.

Mao Ohuabunwa also encouraged members to participate actively in the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise, noting that a well-documented membership base would make the party stronger and more organised.

Speaking separately at the meeting, Abdulrahman Mohammed, chairman of the National Caretaker Working Committee, also appealed for unity as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Abdulrahman Mohammed disclosed that the committee recently inspected the Moshood Abiola National Stadium as part of preparations for the upcoming national convention.

He further revealed that the PDP had recently secured victories in nine appeals at the Court of Appeal, describing the outcomes as encouraging for the party.

Abdulrahman Mohammed insisted that the National Caretaker Working Committee remains the only recognised national leadership body authorised to present candidates for the 2027 elections.

He urged party members to support the committee and avoid internal lawsuits that could slow preparations for future electoral contests.

According to Abdulrahman Mohammed, the committee would review the Certified True Copies of the recent court judgments before deciding whether to pursue further legal action at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The current crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party traces back to November 2025, when rival factions emerged following disagreements over leadership succession and the organisation of the party’s national convention.

A convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and backed by PDP governors produced Kabiru Turaki and members of a new National Working Committee for a four-year term, with leadership transferred from former Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum before the end of his tenure.

However, a rival faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, currently Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, later constituted a 13-member caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary.

The rivalry escalated as both factions attempted to hold meetings at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, prompting intervention by the Nigeria Police Force, which temporarily sealed the building to prevent further clashes.

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The dispute eventually moved to the courts, culminating in a March 9 ruling by the Court of Appeal that declared the Ibadan convention invalid for violating the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution.