The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declared that the party’s national convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16, would not hold.
This came despite the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP earlier on Wednesday directing the National Working Committee (NWC) to proceed with the planned convention.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the factional Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, announced that his group, in collaboration with the factional National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, had received the Certified True Copy of Justice James Omotosho’s ruling which halted the convention.
He said, “We have received the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, which ordered the suspension of the PDP national convention.
“Our legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, has reviewed the ruling and advised accordingly. In compliance with the law, we have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal for further judicial interpretation.”
Abdulrahman insisted that proceeding with the convention would violate the law, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been formally notified.
He added, “Accordingly, we have informed INEC to suspend the Ibadan convention pending the Court of Appeal’s decision. We remain committed to the rule of law and will act only in accordance with valid judicial authority.”
The faction also dismissed the ex parte order issued by Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, which directed the party to proceed with the convention, arguing that it could not override a Federal High Court judgment.
Oyo PDP Dismisses ‘Political Comedians’
In response, the Oyo State chapter of the PDP, loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde, described Abdulrahman’s group as “political comedians” and insisted that preparations for the convention were in full swing.
The state Publicity Secretary, Micheal Ogunsina, told The PUNCH that the party remained united under the leadership of Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
He said, “We must stop listening to charlatans and political comedians. PDP is one, and the National Chairman is Umar Damagum. The NWC, BoT, and all organs of the party are working hard to ensure the success of the Ibadan convention.”
Ogunsina expressed confidence that INEC would comply with the Oyo High Court’s order allowing the convention to proceed, urging aggrieved members to be “humble with their excesses.”
Secretariat Still Locked Down
Meanwhile, the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, Wadata Plaza, remained under lock and key following Monday’s clash between the two factions.
Anyanwu, who accompanied Abdulrahman during Monday’s attempted takeover of the secretariat, claimed the closure was to protect staff from attacks.
“When I arrived for work, I was nearly attacked by hoodlums acting under the instruction of former Chairman Umar Damagum,” he said.
“If not for police intervention, there would have been casualties. For safety, I directed all staff to stay away until calm is restored.”
He maintained that the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja superseded the ex parte order from the Oyo court, stressing that the Ibadan convention could not proceed while an appeal was pending.
Anyanwu also dismissed the BoT meeting held earlier at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja as “a gathering of friends,” not a legitimate BoT session.
Convention in Limbo
With both factions holding opposing positions and the PDP secretariat sealed, the fate of the Ibadan convention remains uncertain.
As legal battles and factional disagreements continue, the opposition party faces one of its deepest internal crises ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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