The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday convened an expanded meeting in Abuja to deliberate on the way forward following the Appeal Court judgment that nullified the outcome of the party’s November national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The meeting, which began on Tuesday, is scheduled to continue by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, when the party leadership is expected to take a definitive position on the development.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the meeting meeting was attended by several key party leaders, including the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; party chieftain Bode George; former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu; acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, among others.
Sources, according to Daily Trust, said discussions were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.
The BoT, however, maintained that the party remains open to reconciliation but stressed that any move toward unity must not reduce the PDP to what it described as an appendage of the ruling party.
Wike-backed Faction Insists On Convention
Meanwhile, the National Caretaker Working Committee of the PDP faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisted it would proceed with preparations for its planned national convention.
The faction said arrangements for the convention had reached an advanced stage despite the legal dispute.
Addressing journalists in Abuja shortly before the committee’s meeting on Tuesday, the faction’s chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, said the Court of Appeal judgment had affirmed the group as the legitimate leadership of the party.
According to him, the appellate court ruled in their favour in nine appeals related to the dispute.
“We thank the leaders of the party and our legal team for their efforts,” Mohammed said.
“The National Caretaker Working Committee remains the only national leadership recognised by the law and by the party.”
‘Caretaker Committee Only Legitimate Leadership’
Mohammed insisted that the caretaker committee remained the only body authorised to field candidates for the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The National Caretaker Working Committee is the only legitimate body that can present a candidate in the build-up to the 2027 general elections,” he stated.
He added that the party must uphold the rule of law in its internal affairs.
“As we continue to work together day and night towards the conduct of our national convention, we must enlighten our members and supporters to understand the judgment delivered yesterday by the Court of Appeal.
“As we proceed with this national convention, we will wait for the certified true copy of the judgment to prepare ourselves for further defence of the party at the Supreme Court, if necessary,” he said.
After inspecting the Velodrome at the National Stadium in Abuja, which has been proposed as the venue for the convention, Mohammed confirmed that the event is scheduled for March 29 and 30.
He called on members of other factions within the party to unite for the sake of the PDP and Nigeria’s democracy.
“We call on all members of our party to come together so that we can work for the progress of the party and democracy in Nigeria.
“We are not claiming that the victory belongs to any individual or group. It is a victory for all,” he said.
Mohammed also reassured aspirants seeking to contest elections under the PDP platform that the leadership crisis would not affect their chances.
“They thought we don’t have candidates in the FCT. They were wondering who would sign their nomination forms.
“But the Appeal Court has affirmed this Caretaker Working Committee. By the time we conduct our convention, we will have a full-fledged National Working Committee.
“If you intend to run for election under the PDP, be rest assured that you will not be disqualified,” he added.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, expressed concern over the wave of defections affecting the PDP but said the remaining governors were not worried.
Speaking on the development, Makinde lamented the exit of several governors from the party, noting that the PDP was now left with only two governors.
Speaking on the development, Makinde lamented the exit of several governors from the party, noting that the PDP was now left with only two governors.
On Monday, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal reportedly announced his resignation from the PDP through his deputy, leaving Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed as the only PDP governors.
Despite the situation, Makinde maintained that the party would continue to push forward.
He noted that when the story of this period is told, when the story of democracy in Nigeria is told, they “will find us on the side of the people. So please, I can only say that this period will also go away. It will pass away.”
On his part, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara said there was need to find solution to what is happening, adding that the BoT considers the judgment an order for the party to begin again. “An order for the party to begin again. We are more, we respect the law. So this is an opportunity for us to begin again. And that’s why we are all here.”
He lamented that the whole idea of what is happening “is to edge us out, but we will find our way, if we have an open mind. We should, in these meetings, keep an open mind and see how we can get ourselves back on track.”
Makinde said what is happening in the party is a challenging period for PDP leaders and members and also a challenging “period for democracy in Nigeria.”
Makinde said he has been speaking with people that should know “who have been involved in the political evolution of this country. And none of them have seen a political landscape like what we are witnessing today. I can only say, we are only two remaining, but we are not bothered.”