Wike-backed PDP faction affirms Mohammed as National Chairman

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has formally ratified Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed as substantive National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.

This is in a bid to resolve the party’s protracted leadership crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Approximately 2,500 delegates gathered in Abuja on Sunday and endorsed a 19-member National Working Committee (NWC) along with other national officers.

The motion for ratification was moved by the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, and seconded by Usman Admu.

The newly affirmed leadership includes Aaron Chukwuemeka as Deputy National Chairman (South), Yusufu Nya Akirikwen (SAN) as Deputy National Chairman (North), Kolawale Olabisi as Deputy National Secretary, Odeyemei Mackson Oladiran as National Treasurer, and Lado Dan Marke as Deputy National Treasurer. Other members of the NWC are Eyim Donatus Henry, Dr Grema Kyari, Umar Mohammed Bature, Efere Augustine, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, Egwu Goodluck Chidiebere, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Barr. Aloysius Chinemelu U. Uba, Osuoha Okechukwu Donatus, Dr Adaba Yatu, Ibrahim Bala Aboki, and Momoh Dejih Eugene Bashir. Professor Ogunshe Adedayo and Hauwa Ahmed Shinge were elected as National Women Leader and Deputy National Women Leader, respectively.

The development marks a significant step for the Wike-aligned group, which has controlled the party’s caretaker structure since late 2025 following internal disputes and court interventions.

The faction had earlier constituted a Caretaker Committee that positioned Mohammed and Anyanwu in acting capacities, with the Sunday convention converting those roles into full four-year terms through what insiders described as a consensus arrangement.

Wike, who has positioned himself as a key stabilising force within the PDP, reportedly played a central role in facilitating the consensus, including appeals to other aspirants to step aside.

In recent statements, he has insisted that the PDP remains the country’s most structured opposition party and vowed that reconciliation efforts with other blocs would continue even after the convention.

The gathering comes amid ongoing divisions within the PDP. A rival faction, associated with figures such as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the earlier Ibadan convention that produced Kabiru Turaki as chairman, has rejected the legitimacy of the Wike-backed process.

That group has indicated plans to pursue further legal action, including at the Supreme Court, raising questions about the long-term unity of Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Despite the tensions, leaders at Sunday’s event emphasised the need for party rebuilding. Abdulrahman Mohammed urged members to close ranks and focus on repositioning the PDP as a credible alternative ahead of future polls.

The PDP has been grappling with internal crises since its heavy defeat in the 2023 general elections, with multiple leadership changes, suspensions, expulsions, and legal battles.

The successful ratification of the new NWC is seen by Wike’s supporters as a decisive move to restore order and prepare the party for the 2027 electoral cycle, though analysts warn that lasting reconciliation across all factions remains essential if the PDP is to mount a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).