PDP Governors Oppose Wike Faction’s Consensus Chair Ahead of 2027 Polls

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s crisis grew deeper on Tuesday as party governors distanced themselves from the Nyesom Wike-backed faction’s consensus choice of a national chairman and secretary, demanding legal action and an examination of the procedure.

With the support of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed emerged as the front-runners for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively.

Reputable senior PDP members who support the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which is supported by the governors, stated that they would use all legal options to make sure the situation is resolved in their favor. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to disclose the development.

Prior to the March 29–30 National Convention, all geopolitical zones had decided on consensus candidates for NWC positions, according to a Tuesday exclusive interview with very high-ranking members of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, who asked to remain anonymous because they are not permitted to speak on the subject.

According to the insiders, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed have been the PDP’s consensus picks for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively, with Wike’s support.

The PDP split into two rival factions following an internal dispute that lasted over a year.

To make matters worse, on November 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governors’ camp, supported by Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), held a convention wherein Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other officials were elected to the National Working Committee.

In response, the Wike-led group formed a 13-member National Caretaker Working Committee in December, designating Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary and Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, along with other members, to manage the party for sixty days while a substantive convention was being held.

The Court of Appeal heard combined lawsuits resulting from the leadership crisis on February 12 and rendered a decision on March 9.

An earlier decision from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which concluded that the procedures leading up to the Ibadan convention violated the Nigerian Constitution, the PDP Constitution, and the Electoral Act, was upheld by a panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma.

As a result, the court ruled that the convention was void and that Turaki’s and other NWC members’ elections were unlawful.

In a related development, all parties were given the chance to seek a peaceful resolution by a different Court of Appeal panel in Ibadan, which was presided over by Justice Biobele Georgewill.

The governors’ new stances and ongoing disputes over the convention suggest that peace efforts may have halted, despite recent shows of healing from both sides.

According to a source in the governors’ camp, the Wike-aligned PDP side was adamant about holding the convention, which is why the reconciliation efforts failed.

“You see, the efforts at reconciliation have failed,” he said. We expressed our willingness to engage in discourse, but during talks with the opposing camp, the Wike group insisted that our people must purchase forms and enter the convention.

“In our opinion, the convention procedure is both illegal and seriously deficient. Together, we are committed to investigating every legal avenue and seeking a different legal solution to the problem.

“We will thoroughly examine the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, the party’s constitution, and the Electoral Act, among other pertinent issues, and take the necessary actions to safeguard the party and guarantee that our members have a strong platform to run on.”

As you can see, the NWC convened for almost four hours today (Tuesday), and it was a successful meeting. Tomorrow, the meeting will go on.

At the NWC meeting at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, Ini Ememobong, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led National Working Committee, declined to comment on the ruling.

He only said that the party would discuss the matter after the meeting continued on Wednesday (today).

Wike’s group, however, zoned the roles of National Secretary to the South and National Chairman to the North-Central, according to a source in his camp. Zonal leaders were also instructed to convene and reach a consensus on nominees for all NWC positions.

Additionally, he revealed that he was the North-West’s unanimous choice for National Organizing Secretary.

The insider went on, “The zonal meeting this afternoon in the North-West confirmed that the status quo will be maintained.” Katsina becomes National Youth Leader, Kano becomes Deputy Treasurer, while Sokoto continues to serve as National Organizing Secretary. Jigawa chose the Vice Chairman of the Zone. Every stance was reached by consensus.

As of right now, South-East also keeps Senator Anyanwu’s National Secretary in Imo State. Okechukwu Osuoha, a former Deputy Legal Advisor, has been appointed Auditor. Former South East National Vice Chairman Chidebere is currently serving as Deputy Public Secretary.

The roles in the Southwest have been assigned as follows: Treasurer to Osun, Deputy Secretary to Ekiti, Zonal Vice Chairman to Lagos, and Woman Leader to Oyo. The Deputy-Chairman North travels to Taraba, the Deputy Financial Secretary to Borno, the Deputy Woman Leader to Gombe, and the Publicity Secretary to Bauchi in the Northeast. Adamawa was appointed as the Zonal Vice-Chairman.

The National Vice-Chairman South travels to Rivers, the Financial Secretary to Cross River, the Deputy Youth Leader to Akwa Ibom, and the Deputy National Organizing Secretary to Delta for the South-South. Next, South-South to Edo, the National Vice Chairman.

The zone decided on Abdulrahman Mohammed, the Acting National Chairman, as their consensus candidate, according to a trustworthy source who attended the North-Central caucus meeting.

According to the source, Wike allegedly pushed former Kogi State Deputy Governor Philip Salawu and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to resign in favor of Mohammed.

“The North-Central zone agreed to produce the National Chairman at the end of the meeting tonight. Given that the Secretary position was located in the South-East, religion also played a role. They wanted the National Chairman to be Muslim because they assumed that the candidate would otherwise be a Christian.

Furthermore, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and former Kogi State Deputy Governor Nyesom Wike, the party’s National Leader and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, urged them to resign so that Abdulrahman Mohammed, the current Acting National Chairman, could become the unanimous choice.

Consequently, Abdulrahman Mohammed was declared the consensus candidate for National Chairman in the upcoming PDP national convention during the North-Central meeting tonight. The decision also took into account the opinion that he had done a good job in the acting post, winning the backing of stakeholders and zonal leaders.

The Wike-backed PDP Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, would not confirm or deny the allegation when contacted for comment.

He said that reaching a consensus was the best course of action for the party and that the National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and other party leaders had good reason to do so.

“In our opinion, reaching a consensus is the best course of action when it comes to bringing out candidates, whether they are from a party or a primary, whether it is through an intraparty working committee, an election, or a primary election with the aim of guiding candidates into elective positions.”

Consensus, as opposed to imposition, indicates the agreement of all parties involved, including the stakeholders and the aspirants. Furthermore, eliminating the voting process saves a great deal of time, money, and hostility. That is the best course of action. In my opinion, the party is not incorrect.

The party’s leaders are correct. Furthermore, the party’s NEC was correct to suggest that the different regions elect party leaders by consensus.

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential contender, has advised the PDP leadership, which is supported by the FCT minister, not to have another factional convention.

Such might further split the party, he cautioned.

Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that both sides had previously decided to pursue a unity convention before to the current Court of Appeal ruling, characterizing the proposal as a grave threat to the PDP’s survival and unity.

He said that the actions of a “fifth columnist,” who reportedly hindered efforts in pursuit of outside objectives, caused the reconciliation process to go awry.

“I implore the Wike faction to honor the gentleman’s agreement that has already been established. Olawepo-Hashim stated, “This is about the PDP’s survival and integrity.

The PDP leader also cautioned against purported attempts to influence state chapter executive committees, especially in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Kano States, pointing out that doing so would be against the party’s constitution.

He warned against transplanting the national leadership crisis into otherwise stable state organizations, arguing that the terms of state executives are set and cannot be changed arbitrarily.

Olawepo-Hashim insisted that their mandates be upheld and named Raymond Dabo (Plateau), Adamu Ninga (Nasarawa), Edward Masha (Kaduna), and Yusuf Kibiya (Kano) as the legitimate state chairmen in the impacted states.

In states where there are no internal conflicts, he cautioned that enforcing alternative structures could exacerbate the situation and erode the party’s unity before upcoming elections.

The former presidential candidate also warned that important players in the ongoing conflict run the risk of becoming political losers if they don’t work out their differences and strictly follow a framework for power-sharing and harmonizing the National Working Committees of the opposing factions.

Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that any factional convention would ultimately result in “a lose-lose outcome for the party” and urged all parties involved to return to the discussion table and finish work on a unified leadership structure.

He reaffirmed that the only way the PDP can reclaim its power, legitimacy, and electoral competitiveness is via unity.

Patching things up

Chibudom Nwuche, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged harmony and reconciliation within the party.

Before the general elections in 2027, he called on all disgruntled party leaders and members to put aside their differences and embrace peace for the benefit of the party as a whole.

This was said by the former deputy speaker following the party’s 107th National Executive Committee meeting, which took place in Abuja on Monday.

In front of the national convention later this week, he asked interested parties to rejoin the PDP and benefit from the current reconciliation and consolidation.

“Under the direction of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we held our party’s 107th NEC meeting yesterday (Monday), and in attendance were senators, members of the House of Representatives, former governors, ministers, legislators, important stakeholders, and party executives from the National and State levels,” he said.

As the party gets ready for upcoming elections, Nwuche especially urged governors and other party leaders to “bury the hatchet and embrace sincere reconciliation,” stressing that internal coherence and unity continue to be its greatest assets.

Nwuche pleaded with the Ibadan convention’s executive committee, headed by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), to refrain from pursuing previously resolved disputes in order to prevent further delays in the reconciliation process.

“Enough legal cases, enough divisiveness. In light of the next general elections in 2027, it is imperative that we put an end to ongoing legal disputes and unite to create a united front.

“Unity, trust, and a common commitment to repositioning and strengthening our party are necessary for the work at hand. He stated, “There are times for peace and times for fighting.”

Additionally, he urged the leadership and members of the BoT, which is headed by Senator Adolphus Wabara, to give peace and unity within the party top priority.

He claims that the PDP’s stability and electoral prospects are being threatened by the current polarization among party members, which is unhelpful.

For the benefit of the People’s Democratic Party and Nigeria as a whole, we must embrace reconciliation as a shared duty.

“For the benefit of our party and the millions of Nigerians who look to us for leadership, I am pleading with all prominent PDP leaders to embrace reconciliation and move forward as one indivisible family,” he declared.

The PDP national convention, which is set for March 29 in Abuja, offers a strategic and timely platform to deepen these attempts at reconciliation, the former deputy speaker added. He advised party officials and participants to view the convention as a pivotal opportunity to mend rifts, reassert togetherness, and establish a shared course for the future rather than just as a standard meeting.

He contends that the convention must act as a focal point for fostering agreement and reaffirming the party’s commitment to its common goal.

He emphasized that party reconciliation must be deliberate, all-encompassing, and directed by well-defined areas of involvement.

In order to benefit the PDP and Nigeria as a whole, the statement ended with a fresh appeal for all party members to embrace communication, peacemaking, and a common goal.