The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caretaker committee backed by Nyesom Wike attended the quarterly consultative meeting of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Thursday, following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the party’s November 15, 2025, national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The acting leadership, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed (Acting National Chairman), Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Acting National Secretary), and Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), represented the party at the meeting with other political parties at INEC headquarters. Observers noted that Mohammed occupied the front-row seat designated “PDP Chairman,” while Anyanwu sat behind on a seat marked “PDP National Secretary.”
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Ibadan invalidated the PDP convention that produced Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and his National Working Committee (NWC), directing Turaki and others to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party. Prior to the ruling, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention and the four-year tenure of the Turaki-led NWC.
The Wike-aligned faction, however, insisted on its leadership, establishing a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, a day before former Chairman Umar Damagum’s tenure expired. Both factions had approached INEC for official recognition, but the commission declined to acknowledge either, triggering ongoing legal disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Reacting to the court’s decision, Turaki’s camp announced plans to appeal. Speaking to PUNCH Online, Anyanwu said the Wike-backed leadership was invited to the INEC meeting in its capacity as the recognised PDP leadership. He also pledged to organise a fresh convention to elect a new NWC, describing the court ruling as a resolution to the party’s internal crisis.
“Yes, we were invited yesterday as the recognised leadership of the PDP, and we are here to participate in this crucial consultative meeting between INEC and political parties to deliberate on party matters and electoral issues,” Anyanwu said. “The recent court judgment has effectively resolved the crisis that had been affecting the PDP. The party’s leadership remains intact under Abdulrahman Mohammed and me, and we are fully prepared to reposition the party ahead of future elections.”