PDP Leadership Crisis and the Path to Reconciliation
In a significant development that could shape the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the party’s Board of Trustees have endorsed a Court of Appeal-backed reconciliation accord with the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. This move marks a critical step in resolving the ongoing leadership crisis within the party.
Senior party leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala, rejected the reconciliation initiative, insisting he could not work with the Wike camp. Despite this, the governors’ group has made progress toward finding a resolution.
Earlier, the PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention held on November 15, which elected Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year term. They also oversaw the handover of leadership from former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9, 2025.
However, a faction loyal to Wike formed a 13-member Caretaker Committee on December 8, 2025, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, among others, with a 60-day mandate. Attempts by both factions to hold meetings at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, descended into chaos, resulting in disorder and physical confrontations. The Nigeria Police Force subsequently sealed the secretariat, which has remained closed ever since.
Both factions then sought recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but the commission declined to recognize either group, triggering prolonged legal disputes as preparations for the 2027 general elections gained momentum.
On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard all consolidated cases related to the PDP leadership crisis, delivering its judgment on March 9. In a ruling by a panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the court upheld the Federal High Court of Abuja’s earlier decision, which found that the processes that produced the governors-backed Ibadan National Convention of November 15–16, 2025, violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Constitution. Consequently, the appellate court nullified the convention’s outcome, declaring the election of Turaki and other members of the NWC invalid.
Also, Justice Biobele Georgewill, leading a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, granted all parties involved in the PDP elective convention case permission to pursue a settlement. The matter was adjourned sine die, based on the agreement of the counsel for both sides to proceed with the settlement process.
Justice Georgewill advised the lawyers representing all parties to prioritize a peaceful resolution in the best interest of the party. Previously, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan had validated the PDP convention held in Ibadan. The case was filed by Folahan Adelabi and was represented by Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN).
At Wednesday’s sitting, Justice Georgewill also urged the parties to be mindful of INEC’s timetable ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said, “The Court has granted leave for settlement in this matter. Also, the case has been adjourned sine die in order to give all the parties the opportunity to meet, either individually or collectively, on how to resolve the case pending before the Appellate Court peacefully.”
All the lawyers, in their submissions, expressed agreement with the court’s stance on the matter. Speaking to reporters, Sunday Ibrahim (SAN), representing the other counsel, said the parties have indicated their readiness to reach a settlement. “On that note, we make no further comment because the same may prejudice the envisioned settlement. The parties involved, during their meetings on settlement, may discuss about the INEC timetable and the rest,” he added.
Party sources with knowledge of the matter disclosed that Makinde and the expanded BoT meeting agreed that both factions should appoint legal teams and senior party leaders to draft the terms of the reconciliation accord and submit them to the Court of Appeal for approval.
The Role of the Board of Trustees
Meanwhile, the PDP Board of Trustees has moved to reconcile aggrieved stakeholders after the recent Court of Appeal ruling that invalidated the party’s November 2025 National Convention. PDP BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, who stated this on Wednesday after the expanded Trustees meeting in Abuja, also announced the constitution of a special committee to engage legal teams and party leaders in resolving the leadership crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the judgment, the PDP BoT stated that while it awaited advice from the party’s lawyers, it would adopt the Appeal Court Ibadan ruling to explore alternative dispute resolution in addressing all issues. The communique, read by Wabara, stated, “The BoT is disturbed by the avoidable internal leadership disputes and wranglings leading to damaging litigations with consequential detrimental effect on the unity and smooth running of the PDP as the major opposition party in the country.”
The BoT noted that the remarkable increase in membership, despite existing challenges, highlighted the PDP’s position as the preferred party for the majority of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections. The communique read in part, “The BoT therefore calls on all leaders and members of our party to jettison all personal and group interests and come together as one family in the overall interest of our party and the wellbeing of millions of Nigerians whose hope is anchored on the PDP.”
Calls for Unity and Reconciliation
Signaling their readiness for reconciliation, the governors-backed faction, through its National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, announced the postponement of the Caucus and National Executive meeting originally scheduled for Thursday (today). The statement read, “In furtherance of the decision of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, in pursuit of reconciliation within the party, we announce the postponement of the meetings of the National Caucus, Board of Trustees, and National Executive Committee of our party earlier scheduled for this week until further notice.”
In response to the olive branch extended by the Governors camp, Wike, during his group’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, stated that they were prepared for reconciliation. He said, “PDP will never die. There comes a time that you have crises, but those grains are for you to put yourself in order. Life is in stages. For me, what is happening is a natural process that we must pass through as humans. We are for reconciliation, but genuine reconciliation.”
Wike also rejected accusations that his role in the All Progressives Congress-led federal administration had compromised his loyalty to the PDP. “It was as if I was the cause of the problem because I am working in an APC administration, but all the ones who accused me are today in APC, and me that they accused has not left the PDP,” he said.
He further insisted that the party’s planned national convention would go ahead as scheduled (March 29 and 30), dismissing suggestions that another caretaker committee should be constituted to accommodate dissenting members. “The party is working hard for the convention to hold. They have paid the necessary fees. They have secured the venue. So, let nobody bring another suggestion that we should form another caretaker committee. I won’t accept that. Convention must hold and we will allow everybody to participate,” Wike said.
The Road Ahead
Earlier, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Abba Moro, appealed for compromise among the competing factions, emphasizing the need to protect the party’s future. “I bring you solidarity from the National Assembly. I want to reiterate very emphatically here that the NASS caucus of our great party has always been in the forefront of having a united PDP,” Moro said.
He disclosed that he had earlier met with the faction led by Tanimu Turaki in an effort to find common ground. “Crisis has rocked the PDP over some time and the NASS caucus under my leadership and Hon. Kingsley Chinda resolved that we must provide a platform so that we can act as one,” he said.
Moro also urged party members to make sacrifices in order to preserve the party. “Whether I contest election in 2027 or not, the survival of PDP is paramount to me. I cannot abandon it. Everybody should accept some level of sacrifices,” he added.
In his remarks, the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, described the Court of Appeal judgment as a positive development for both the party and the country’s democratic system. “For us, we are happy that the judgment of Monday is not just for PDP but for democracy in the country,” Chinda said.
He added that the ruling had restored confidence in the party’s future. “You have seen the exodus of our members in the past just because of the fear of the viability of the platform, but Monday’s judgment has laid all that to rest. We want to assure you that within a short time in the House of Representatives, you will see people defecting to the PDP,” he declared.
Chinda, however, stressed that genuine peace must be built on justice. “Yes, we crave for peace, but whoever seeks peace must also seek justice. That is the only thing that can give us sustained peace,” he said.