Peoples Democratic Party: Wike's Camp Insists Convention Won't Hold

The crisis in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday as the camp loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, and led by suspended national secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, have insisted that the national convention will not hold.

Anyanwu camp stated this yesterday in reaction to court ruling from Oyo State clearing the party to convene the gathering which seeks to elect new party leaders on November 15, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Anyanwu camp made its position known just as the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party set up a reconciliation committee over the split in the party’s (National Working Committee).

The BoT, after an emergency meeting yesterday on the split within, mandated the Reconciliation Committee to report back to it on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 for further action.

The elders of the party, however said that the party is progressing towards the conduct of the November 15 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.

The members of the BoT Reconciliation Committee are Amb. Hassan Adamu (North East) (chairman); Chief Mike Oghiadomhe (South South) secretary; Chief Ugochukwu Okeke (South East); Sen. Zaynab Kure (North Central); Prince Onyinlola Olagunsoye (South West); and Dr. Lubna Mohammed Gusau (North West).

Presenting the communique, chairman of the party’s BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said PDP stands behind the leadership of the Amb. Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).

The BoT also said the ruling of the Oyo State High Court, presided over by Justice A L Akintol, affirmed the Constitutional right and liberty of the party to manage its internal affairs including holding of the 2025 Elective National Convention as scheduled.

Anyanwu’s team reacts

Speaking on behalf of their camp, their acting national chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammed, dismissed the convening of the Ibadan convention.

He said, “The judgment of the Federal High Court supersedes the expert order being given by the Oyo State Chapter.”

Corroborating, Anyanwu said, “First, both the Federal High Court in Abuja and the State High Court in Oyo are equal. But as a matter of fact, the Federal High Court in Abuja has more powers because all federal institutions are in charge of that. The State High Court order is just an exparte order which lasts only seven days. Before that exparte order, the party has already filed an appeal at an appeal court. And of course, when a new motion is filed in a new court, that means everything will stay pending the outcome of the appeal. So, we shall wait for the appeal,” he said.

He described the BoT meeting as one-sided becasued he was not invited.

He claimed that most of those who attended the meeting are not BoT members, adding “that is a meeting of friends and associates compared to the Board of Trustees.”

Presenting the BoT’s communique, the body’s chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said PDP stands behind the leadership of the Amb. Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).

He thanked other party organs for their collective roles in stabilising the party, adding that the party is progressing towards the conduct of the November 15 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.

“This landmark Ruling is victory to Democracy, Rule of Law and political development in our country,” the BoT said.

It expressed worry over the recent developments within the party’s ranks, saying the tensions, misunderstandings, and regrettable incidents that have played out in public including the invasion of the party’s National Secretariat are not reflective of the ideals and character of the PDP.

“As the conscience of the party, the BoT cannot and will not take sides but remain focused on safeguarding the integrity of the PDP and ensuring dialogue over discord. The decision for reconciliation is not as a sign of weakness, but as a demonstration of maturity and responsibility.

“Against this backdrop, the BoT sets up a high-powered committee to immediately reconcile all conflicting sides and restore unity of purpose in our party as we head to the Elective National Convention in Ibadan.