Factions within the Peoples Democratic Party have disagreed over the planned national convention scheduled for March 29–30, 2026, with one group insisting it will proceed and the other saying the organisers lack legal capacity to do so.
The dispute follows internal party tensions over leadership and recognition after a Federal High Court ruling on January 30, 2026, which annulled the party’s November 15, 2025, national convention and directed some individuals to stop presenting themselves as national officers.
Both factions have sought recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has declined to recognise either side, and the matter is pending before the Court of Appeal.
The faction aligned with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is led by the PDP National Caretaker Committee, with Mohammed Abdulrahman as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary.
Members of this group said they formally informed the Independent National Electoral Commission of the planned March convention.
In an interview, the Wike-aligned committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, and party official Okechukwu Osuoha said the convention is intended to be inclusive and will follow provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
They stated that the party is preparing for the convention and that ongoing litigation will not affect their activities.
The Governor Seyi Makinde-aligned faction, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), said the Wike-aligned group lacks the capacity and locus to organise the convention.
The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described any gathering held by that group in the name of the party as “futile,” saying those involved have been expelled from the party.
The PDP National Headquarters was sealed by police following the November 2025 tensions and has remained closed as the internal dispute continues.
The disagreement highlights ongoing contestation within the Peoples Democratic Party over leadership and the legitimacy of party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise either faction adds to legal and administrative uncertainties as both sides pursue their differing positions.
