Reconciliation within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been strained as the Nyesom Wike-aligned faction accused the governors-backed group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) of attempting to sabotage the party’s national convention scheduled for March 29–30, 2026.
PDP National Caretaker Working Committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, told reporters in Abuja that the convention would go ahead as planned, citing binding court rulings. “Let it be clearly stated that the position of the courts on the leadership of the PDP remains unequivocal. The judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have affirmed the legitimacy and authority of the National Caretaker Working Committee as the body duly recognised to steer the affairs of the party at this time,” he said.
Mohammed expressed concern over reports that the Turaki camp might seek an injunction in Ibadan to halt the convention. “This is particularly unfortunate given that the leadership of the party had, in good faith, extended several invitations and opportunities for reconciliation and dialogue. Regrettably, these overtures were ignored, as the said faction failed to present itself for meaningful engagement,” he said.
He emphasized that the PDP remains committed to unity, internal democracy, and adherence to the rule of law. “However, we will not allow the collective interest of our party to be derailed by actions that are clearly at variance with these principles. In this regard, we respectfully call on the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the State Chief Judge to take judicial notice of these attempts to abuse court processes and to frustrate the legitimate activities of our party,” Mohammed added.
He assured that all arrangements for the convention are complete. “We reaffirm our confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and trust that justice will continue to be served in accordance with the law. Furthermore, we wish to categorically assure all Nigerians, particularly our members across the country, that the national convention of our great party, scheduled for the 29th and 30th of March 2026, will proceed as planned. All necessary arrangements have been concluded, and the party is fully prepared to deliver a successful, transparent, and credible convention,” he said.
The Turaki-aligned faction dismissed the claims as blackmail. National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said, “It is sad that people who we thought should behave like gentlemen are still living in the mud. The world would bear witness that from the day we took a decision for reconciliation, we backpedaled on everything.”
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Ememobong accused the Wike faction of undermining reconciliation efforts. “The only set of people who are weaponizing communication and still behaving as if reconciliation is not on the table are their people. What they are clearly doing is blackmail,” he said, noting that their awareness of a potential injunction suggested they might be planning it themselves.
He added that the governors’ faction remains committed to dialogue. “So we are still hopeful that the reconciliation will work. We don’t know what they are talking about. They should, rather than spend time and energy inaugurating convention committees, make themselves available for discussion,” he said.
The leadership dispute dates back to November 15, 2025, when PDP governors endorsed an Ibadan convention that elected Turaki and other National Working Committee (NWC) members for a four-year term, with leadership handed over from former Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum on December 9.
A Wike-aligned faction later set up a 13-member Caretaker Committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary for a 60-day term. Both factions sought recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which refused to recognize either side, leading to extended legal battles ahead of the 2027 elections.
On March 9, the Court of Appeal upheld a Federal High Court ruling nullifying the November 15–16 Ibadan convention, declaring the election of Turaki and other NWC members invalid for violating the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Constitution. Separately, a three-member Court of Appeal panel in Ibadan, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, encouraged all parties to pursue an amicable resolution to the leadership crisis.