The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party escalated on Thursday following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition of a caretaker committee backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Punch reports that the move triggered outrage within the camp loyal to the PDP governors, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as national chairman of the party.
On Thursday, the caretaker committee, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and caretaker secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, were invited for the quarterly meeting of the political parties with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The PUNCH noted that Mohammed occupied a front-row seat designated “PDP Chairman,” while Anyanwu sat behind him on a seat labelled “PDP National Secretary.”
After the closed-door session, Anyanwu told journalists, “Yes, we were invited yesterday as the recognised leadership of the PDP, and we are here to participate in this crucial consultative meeting between INEC and political parties to deliberate on party matters and electoral issues.
“The recent court judgment has effectively resolved the crisis that had been affecting the PDP. The party’s leadership remains intact under Abdulrahman Mohammed and me, and we are fully prepared to reposition the party ahead of future elections.”
He said the PDP would present a candidate in the 2027 election, adding that the caretaker committee was set to assume control of Wadata Plaza, the national headquarters of the party, on Monday.
“Last Friday, as a matter of fact, the Federal High Court made it very clear that the problem of leadership is over, because the so-called convention of November 15th, 16th, 2025, is a nullity and that no other person should parade himself or herself as a member of the National Working Committee of the PDP.
“That the only recognised body of the PDP that has the full powers to speak for the party, to work for the party, is the National Working Committee led by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed.”
Explaining why the faction had not yet taken over the party headquarters, Anyanwu said legal and security issues needed to be resolved.
He added that a recent effort by the Turaki faction to use the police to prevent their access was overturned by the courts.
“Police took over the place, and then the other group went to court to ask the police to reopen, and the matter was dismissed because they had no locus. So, by Monday, we are taking over the office,” he said.
Anyanwu assured party supporters that resolving the crisis would enable the PDP to present candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He stated, “Party members are pleased, as concerns that the PDP might not field candidates in the upcoming elections have been resolved; the party will now present candidates across all positions.”
The governors aligned with the Turaki-led National Working Committee have, however, begun considering legal action, following the recognition of the Wike-backed caretaker committee by INEC.
The faction, in a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, criticised INEC for recognising the Wike-backed caretaker committee, calling the move unconstitutional and provocative.
Ememobong called on party members to stay peaceful and patient while awaiting the resolution of the ongoing court cases concerning the party’s leadership crisis.
The statement read, “We are aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission invited the leaders of political parties to a meeting today and extended the invitation to some former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.
“This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing a widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal responses.
“Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal (including the judgment which they are relying upon), which, when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration, and exercised restraint therefrom.
“We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party.
“Consequently, we urge all our members to remain calm and hopeful that, soonest, the Court of Appeal will hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of our party.”
The Turaki-led NWC assured that the party would surmount all its challenges to present a more united party to Nigerians.
“We assure that the rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), is steady and secure, and will ultimately surmount all these challenges to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians as a credible alternative to the ruling party that has brought untold sorrows, tears, and blood to Nigerians,” Ememobong said.
On Friday, a Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, nullified the PDP national convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan and directed Turaki (SAN) and several others who emerged at the convention to stop presenting themselves as national officers of the party.
Before the judgment, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention that elected Turaki and the members of the NWC for a four-year term.
Although the governors facilitated a transition from former chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9, the Wike-aligned camp established a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed, Anyanwu, and others with a 60-day mandate.
Both the governors’ bloc and the Wike-aligned faction then approached INEC seeking official recognition, but the commission refused to acknowledge either side, leading to multiple legal disputes.
In response to Friday’s court ruling, the Turaki-led PDP NWC, through Ememobong, stated that its legal team had been instructed to file an immediate appeal and pursue all available legal remedies.
Meanwhile, the Wike-backed faction welcomed the judgment barring Turaki and others from acting as the party’s NWC, and pledged to organise a fresh convention to elect new members.
Anyanwu, speaking on behalf of the bloc, stated that the court’s ruling had effectively brought an end to the PDP’s internal crisis.
Punch
