Representatives of the camps loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are scheduled to meet on Monday as part of efforts to harmonise their positions and resolve the lingering leadership crisis in the party.
A senior PDP figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, disclosed that the reconciliation committee set up by both sides would reconvene to consolidate proposals aimed at settling the dispute.
Officials from the governors’ bloc, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee, and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, also confirmed that the panel would meet to address contentious issues within the party.
Speaking on the issue, the National Secretary of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, expressed optimism that the party would overcome its internal challenges in the near future.
The PDP governors had earlier supported the Ibadan convention held on November 15, during which Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee were elected to serve a four-year tenure.
The governors also oversaw the transition of leadership from the former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9.
However, a rival group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the formation of a 13-member Caretaker Committee on December 8. The committee named Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, among others, and was given a 60-day mandate.
Attempts by both the Wike-aligned camp and the governors’ faction to hold separate meetings at the PDP National Secretariat located at Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, descended into chaos, resulting in disorder and physical clashes.
Following the incident, the Nigeria Police Force sealed the secretariat, which has remained closed since then.
Both factions subsequently approached the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking recognition, but the commission declined to acknowledge either side. This development triggered a series of legal battles as political preparations for the 2027 general elections intensified.
On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard consolidated cases related to the PDP leadership dispute and delivered its ruling on March 9.
In a judgment delivered by a panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the appellate court upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which held that the processes leading to the November 15–16 Ibadan National Convention, backed by the governors, violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP Constitution.
Consequently, the court nullified the outcome of the convention and declared the election of Turaki and other members of the NWC invalid.
Justice Biobele Georgewill, who headed a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, granted all parties involved in the PDP elective convention dispute permission to pursue an out-of-court settlement.
The case was subsequently adjourned sine die after lawyers representing both sides agreed to proceed with reconciliation efforts.
Reconciliation moves
Following the court rulings, the governors’ bloc, the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees and the Wike-backed Caretaker Committee all indicated willingness to pursue genuine reconciliation.
Sources within the party also revealed that the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who had previously opposed reconciliation with Wike’s camp, is now open to the process.
According to one of the sources, representatives and legal advisers from both factions met on Friday to begin discussions.
The source stated, “They had their first meeting on Friday. You know, the Bauchi State Governor, who earlier declined the idea of reconciliation with the Wike group, is now open to reconciliation. As a matter of fact, he has held discussions and had phone conversations with stakeholders from both camps.
“Both camps have nominated members of the reconciliation committee—about six representatives from each side, including legal practitioners. They held a meeting on Friday, which centred on identifying areas and issues for reconciliation. During the meeting, they agreed that members of both factions should return to their respective groups to harmonise the issues within their camps.
“They are expected to itemise their concerns and conditions and bring them forward so that the entire committee can review and harmonise them. The idea is for each representative to return to their caucus or camp, listen to their members, identify their conditions, and list those that are realistic and workable.”
Another insider said discussions were still ongoing on whether the dispute would ultimately be resolved through a fresh convention or the establishment of an interim caretaker committee.
He stated, “Both camps are expected to meet again on Monday to review all the conditions and try as much as possible to reach a common ground and harmonise them, with the aim of resolving the crisis as soon as possible. That is the stage we are at now. Hopefully, by Monday, the committee will meet again to harmonise the conditions, after which there may be a clearer direction for everyone.
“For now, no decision has not been made on who will become chairman or whether the party will proceed with a convention or set up a caretaker committee. While some stakeholders are pushing for a convention, others are advocating an interim caretaker committee. All these issues are expected to become clearer by Monday or as soon as the committee reviews and harmonises the conditions submitted by both camps.”
Party survival paramount – Turaki faction
A member of the Board of Trustees of the Turaki-led faction, Fasiu Bakene, confirmed the development to Sunday PUNCH, saying the reconciliation initiative followed recent court decisions that left the party without a clear national leadership structure.
Bakene explained that the Court of Appeal judgment in Abuja failed to recognise the leadership claims of either faction involved in the dispute.
He noted that although the court upheld the suspension of some members loyal to Wike, including the party’s National Secretary, Anyanwu, it also nullified the Ibadan convention that produced the NWC.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja did not give leadership to either side. While it upheld the suspension of Anyanwu, Ajibade and others from the Wike side, it also invalidated the Ibadan convention which produced the NWC.
“So, if the court said the convention is invalidated, it means there is no NWC and no caretaker committee. The only structure that remains in existence now is the Board of Trustees,” he said.
Bakene added that the BoT decided to encourage reconciliation after lawyers from both factions informed the Court of Appeal in Ibadan that efforts were underway to resolve the dispute out of court.
“Based on that, the BoT decided to encourage reconciliation for the sake of the majority of our supporters and members who are interested in elective positions ahead of the 2027 election,” Bakene said.
He explained that the reconciliation committee would include representatives from both camps to ensure fairness in the process.
Bakene also expressed reservations about the possibility of a new convention being organised if reconciliation efforts succeed.
“If we are going into reconciliation, that should be one of the issues on the table. We will also make it clear that we are proceeding to the Supreme Court, and all of these matters will be sorted out,” he added.
According to him, one possible outcome could be the creation of a caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We should reduce the cost of organising another convention and have a caretaker committee that will run the affairs of the party, at least for the purpose of presenting candidates for the 2027 elections,” he said.
Bakene stressed that the overriding concern should be the survival of the party.
Ememobong also confirmed that reconciliation talks had commenced, noting that representatives of both sides were mindful of the urgency of resolving the crisis.
He stated, “Well, our position is simple. At a time when reconciliation is being explored, the status quo should be maintained. Any vexatious act may undermine the peace process, which is why we issued the statement to discountenance any such move. Let’s hope that neither side takes any action that could derail the process.
“We are hopeful that the exercise will yield fruitful results. We are optimistic that peace will return to the PDP and that the party will field candidates for the 2027 election.”
Earlier, Ememobong had cautioned in a statement on Saturday that the alleged dissolution of the State Executive Committees in Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states by Wike’s faction could undermine reconciliation efforts.
The statement read, “This dissolution, which is illegal and unwarranted, is an affront to the proposed reconciliation for which talks are underway. This further attempt to deepen divisions at the state and other levels is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
“We urge the state chapters, all officers of the party at the local government and ward levels, and indeed the public, to discountenance the said notice and continue to exercise their lawful duties.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our desire for peace must be understood in the context of the need for the salvation of the party for the purpose of the forthcoming elections, and not misconstrued otherwise.”
The National Secretary of the Wike-backed Caretaker Committee also expressed optimism that the crisis would soon be resolved and that the party would emerge stronger.
On his part, Anyanwu said the party had already begun moving beyond its internal divisions, arguing that the Turaki group could no longer be regarded as a separate faction.
However, he insisted that preparations for the planned national convention would continue as scheduled.
“We have come to the conclusion that the so-called Turaki-led faction is no longer a faction. We only have one PDP now, under the leadership of the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee.
“By April 2, we are going to have a new National Working Committee of the party and we will continue from where we stopped.
“We are moving ahead with our convention. Preparations are already going on for that and the convention will take place on the 29th and 30th of April,” he stated.
Anyanwu nevertheless acknowledged ongoing reconciliation efforts, noting that the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, had initiated moves to bridge the divide.
He said, “Governor Makinde himself has reached out for reconciliation, but like our leader said, we want a sincere and honest reconciliation. In politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy; it is all about interest.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, said the Wike-aligned camp remained open to reconciliation but insisted that the planned convention would go ahead.
According to him, Wike had made it clear that reconciliation should not affect the convention timetable or the caretaker leadership.
“He said the convention date is sacrosanct and cannot be changed, and that the members of the National Caretaker Committee have come to stay. If the convention is coming up next week or so, there is no point changing any caretaker now,” he said.
Bisi added that preparatory activities for the convention were already underway in several states.
“As of today, congresses are ongoing in almost 15 states of the country, including Oyo State. So we cannot halt any ongoing congresses or the convention coming up,” he stated.
He maintained that the camp remained open to dialogue if the opposing group genuinely wished to resolve the dispute.
“If they want to come for reconciliation, they can come. We are not quarrelling with anybody; our doors are open. If they come, we will sit down and discuss the positions in the National Working Committee. If their argument is strong, why not? Like Wike said, we are operating from a position of strength,” Bisi added.
Meanwhile, the North Central Zonal Legal Adviser of the PDP, Abubakar Issa, has criticised the push for reconciliation with Wike’s camp, describing his support for President Bola Tinubu as a betrayal of the party.
Issa questioned the basis for the reconciliation initiative, particularly the move by a group aligned with Makinde to engage Wike and his supporters amid the ongoing crisis.
According to him, it is difficult to justify negotiations with a party member who openly backed the presidential candidate of a rival party during the last election.
“But from my own perspective, the question is: on what basis will the PDP meet with Wike? His position is very clear,” Issa said.
“What he is doing is even a crime against the party. You cannot remain a member of the PDP and openly campaign for another candidate. That is not done anywhere in the world.”
He warned that reconciliation without addressing the issue could weaken the party’s internal discipline and credibility.
“So, how do you now sit down to settle with such a person? On what terms? Does it mean that all of us in the PDP must now accept working for Tinubu? That is not possible.
“Within the next few days, we will see the position the party eventually adopts. But personally, I believe many party members will disagree with him. There is no way the PDP can work for the APC,” he added.
(PUNCH)
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