The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing yet another critical test of unity, as its six-month reconciliation committee, led by the Board of Trustees (BoT), has recommended an all-inclusive caretaker committee to oversee party affairs amid ongoing legal battles.
Interestingly, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has once again found itself in the eye of a legal storm, as conflicting court rulings leave its much-anticipated national convention in limbo.”
While the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered a halt to the convention, citing procedural irregularities and the exclusion of former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido from contesting for the national chairmanship, an Oyo State High Court granted the party the green light to proceed it 2025 National Convention slated for Ibadan today, citing the need for constitutional compliance and the participation of all eligible members, including former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido.
The contradictory decisions have deepened the party’s internal crisis, highlighting the ongoing friction between different factions. With Abuja demanding strict adherence to party guidelines and Ibadan giving a go-ahead, the PDP now faces uncertainty over the convention’s legitimacy, raising questions about how the party will navigate the tussle ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee also cautioned that proceeding with the convention at this time must be contingent upon a favourable legal status and disposition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It, however, said that INEC was not likely to monitor the convention, considering the multiple court orders and judgements.
This was contained in a report by the six-member committee which was submitted to the Board of Trustees leadership on Thursday, a copy of which was sighted by LEADERSHIP Weekend.
The report was also presented to the PDP governors and other stakeholders at a later meeting on Thursday.
Members of the committee are Amb. Hassan Adamu (North East) – chairman, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (South West), Dr Mike Oghiadomhe (South South) – Secretary, Sen. Zaynab Kure (North Central), Dr Lubna Gusau (North West) and Chief Ugochukwu Okeke (South East). The BoT established the committee in the wake of suspensions and counter-suspensions of party top officers, as well as court cases that preceded the national convention scheduled for today.
The warring camps, the Wike group and PDP governors, have been locked in a legal tussle over the convention, with two Abuja courts’ ruling for the gathering to be halted, while an Ibadan court gave the party the green light to proceed.
However, the BoT reconciliation team stated that after meeting with all concerned parties in the dispute, it found that friction, distrust, and a lack of sincerity had festered for too long among the key players, especially governors and National Working Committee (NWC) members.
The committee said it met with PDP governors, FCT minister Nyesom Wike, members of the NWC, and former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
It further stated that the battle for control of the party ahead of 2027 had become an issue and had affected the smooth running of the party.
It noted that job descriptions were tampered with in the NWC, which led to the creation of camps and caused loyalties to shift more towards individuals than towards the party.
It also said that the litigation in courts across the strata was not attended to with the speed and candour required, resulting in more crises.
According to its report, the committee recommended that: “Going ahead with the convention at this time must be subject to favourable legal status and disposition of INEC.
“However, considering the multiple court orders and judgements, INEC is not likely to monitor the convention.
“Accordingly, an all-inclusive Caretaker Committee (CTC) is recommended because a failed convention will incapacitate the tenability of the party to field candidates at all levels nationally.
“For this to be effected, all the NWC should reverse the status quo ante immediately.”
It further recommended that all suspension orders be lifted and that all parties be brought together for genuine reconciliation.
The committee further recommended that granting the Governors’ Forum the status of an organ of the party by constitutional amendment should not be done at this time.
It also stated that the party constitution must always be upheld, stressing that “party supremacy and discipline are core.”
While it noted that the BoT must be given its prime position to mediate and guide processes within the party, the committee stated that the advisory body must always appear to be neutral.
Meanwhile, the Wike camp has asked the party leadership to heed the recommendations of the BoT reconciliation committee.
Loyalists of the Wike group, namely Barr. George Turna (PDP South-South Zonal Secretary), Hon. Amah Abraham (PDP chairman, Abia) and Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo Chairman), stated this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday.
They were the party leaders who approached the Abuja court and secured a judgement to halt the convention.
They called on their “new BoT chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, and their acting national chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahaman, to implement the BoT report.”
Speaking on their behalf, Nwachukwu said, “The report did not come from us; it came from the BoT, the conscience of our party. We urge the leadership to quickly implement the recommendations, which will address our concerns and restore order.
“Many members are frustrated because the party is in disarray. We deserve commendation for having the courage to challenge illegality.”
Again, Court Stops PDP Convention.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a fresh order stopping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from going ahead with its 2025 national convention scheduled for Ibadan, in Oyo State.
The convention is billed to hold between 15 and 16 November for the purpose of electing national officers for the PDP.
However, the court, in its judgement on Friday, in a suit filed by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, barred the PDP from proceeding with the convention until it complies with its constitution and guidelines on the convention.
He ordered that the Ibadan convention be put on hold until Sule Lamido is allowed to purchase a nomination form for the office of the national chairman.
The judge prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or aiding the Ibadan convention until the former Jigawa State governor participates in the convention.
The judge held that the PDP is under a strict obligation to adhere to its own rules and regulations by giving opportunities to eligible members to realise their aspirations.
He said that it was wrong of the PDP to have denied Lamido the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the office of the national chairman of the party.
In a related twist, the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday extended its existing order protecting the PDP’s national convention, scheduled for Saturday, from any interference. The extension will remain in effect pending the court’s ruling on a challenge to its jurisdiction, now set for Monday, December 8, 2025.
Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), O. Adeyemi, had earlier questioned the court’s authority to hear the matter brought by the claimant/applicant, setting the stage for another legal showdown that could further complicate the party’s convention plans.
