Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected the consensus candidates for national chairman and national secretary put forward by the faction aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, with officials saying they intend to pursue legal options to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis within the party.
The PDP has been divided into rival factions for nearly a year following disagreements over the conduct and legitimacy of its national leadership.
Late in 2025, a group of governors aligned with a different camp held a national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, that elected Kabiru Turaki (SAN) and other officials into the National Working Committee (NWC).
In response, the Wike‑backed faction established its own National Caretaker Working Committee in December 2025, appointing Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary.
In March 2026, the Court of Appeal upheld earlier rulings that the Ibadan convention breached the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Constitution, nullifying that set of party elections. Another Appeal panel offered an opportunity for an amicable settlement.
The Wike‑aligned camp said it organised zonal caucus meetings in all geopolitical zones, agreeing on consensus candidates for NWC positions ahead of the party’s planned national convention on March 29–30, 2026.
According to insiders, the North‑Central zone agreed on Abdulrahman Mohammed as the consensus candidate for National Chairman, with gender, religion, and zoning considerations influencing the allocations. In the South‑East, Senator Samuel Anyanwu was identified as the candidate for National Secretary.
Other roles, including National Organising Secretary, Zonal Vice Chairmen, and deputy positions, were reportedly agreed by consensus across zones.
However, governors aligned with the rival camp say they cannot accept the consensus process.
A senior governor‑aligned source described the Wike faction’s proposed convention and consensus method as “fundamentally flawed and illegal,” and said they will “carefully review the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” to pursue all available legal options to protect the party’s interests.
The governors’ camp reportedly held a four‑hour NWC meeting to discuss the way forward and planned to continue deliberations to determine their legal strategy.
The Publicity Secretary of the governors’ camp Ini Ememobong declined to comment on the position at the meeting, saying the party would issue a response after further discussions.
From the Wike camp, a senior party official said the consensus approach remains the best mechanism for selecting leaders, arguing it reflects consent of stakeholders and avoids contentious primary contests and resource strain.
Former PDP presidential aspirant Gbenga Olawepo‑Hashim criticised the idea of any factional convention, warning it could further fracture the party.
He urged both factions to uphold previous agreements and pursue unity to preserve the party’s electoral competitiveness ahead of the 2027 elections.
Separately, former Deputy Speaker of the House Chibudom Nwuche, a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, called for reconciliation and unity within the party.
He said leaders should “set aside differences and embrace peace” and described the upcoming national convention as an opportunity to heal divisions and reposition the party.
The governors’ rejection of the Wike faction’s consensus leadership choices indicates that the party’s internal crisis remains unresolved and may lead to further legal contestation in the courts.
This infighting comes as the PDP prepares for the 2027 general elections, increasing pressure on party structures to resolve leadership disputes ahead of key electoral contests.
Calls for unity by senior party figures suggest parallel efforts to bridge divisions even as disagreements persist. How these tensions are resolved could influence the PDP’s organisational cohesion and electoral strength in the coming months.
