The Peoples Democratic Party’s state chairmen have split over the National Convention of the party scheduled for today (Sunday) in Abuja.
The convention is being organised by the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Chairman of the PDP in Edo State who also doubles as the Chairman of the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, Tony Aziegbemi, said the convention should not hold in view of the pending case before the Supreme Court.
He warned that proceeding with the convention would amount to a disregard for the rule of law.
“The convention being planned by the Wike faction is illegal, as there is a case at the Supreme Court which is yet to be decided.
“I will urge the state chairmen and their members not to attend the convention because it is illegal. INEC should also monitor those being paraded as delegates. They are impostors, and the list being used might not tally with the one with INEC,” he said.
Similarly, the Sokoto State chapter of the party announced it would boycott the convention.
The state Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sanyinawal, said the chapter would remain neutral in the leadership dispute.
He said, “We are not attending the convention in Abuja, just like we refused to attend the Ibadan convention. We are members of the PDP, but we don’t belong to any faction.”
However, the Kwara State chapter of the PDP said it would participate in the convention.
The state Chairman, Alhaji Isa Bawa, said the resolution followed extensive deliberations on the leadership crisis currently affecting the party at the national level.
He explained that the meeting was convened to determine whether Kwara delegates should attend the convention, especially after the state’s participation in the earlier convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
“The stakeholders agreed that we should send our delegates to fully participate in the forthcoming national convention in Abuja on March 29,” Bawa said, noting that the outcome of the convention would guide the party’s next line of action.
Similarly, the Kebbi State chapter confirmed its participation, with the state Secretary, Abubakar Kalgo, saying delegates had been mobilised and were ready for the event.
Kalgo, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, explained that the decision to attend the convention was unanimously agreed upon by key stakeholders of the party in the state.
He stressed that all delegates from Kebbi would fully participate in the exercise scheduled to hold from Sunday to Monday in Abuja.
“We are satisfied with the arrangements for the Abuja convention, and all our delegates are prepared to participate fully,” he said.
When asked whether the Kebbi PDP aligns with the Wike-led faction, Kalgo declined to give a direct response, saying, “Don’t misquote me. All I know is that we are going to the convention.”
Kalgo noted that the move demonstrates the willingness of the Kebbi PDP to remain actively involved in national party affairs, despite internal disagreements that have affected the party in recent times.
Similarly, the Osun State PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, said the state chapter would participate in the convention.
He said, “I have been attending their meetings and I will try to participate in tomorrow’s convention.”
About 2,500 delegates are expected at the convention, where the party is set to affirm the Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed; Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and 17 others as members of the National Working Committee.
The convention is scheduled to take place at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The PDP Constitution (2017, as amended) provides for a 19-member National Working Committee comprising the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, National Secretary and Deputy, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Organising Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Auditor, Legal Adviser, Woman Leader, Youth Leader, and National Vice Chairman.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Wike-backed faction adopted a consensus approach to select candidates for the positions, with the leadership expected to steer the party’s affairs for the next four years.
Confirming preparations, Wike said reconciliation efforts would continue after the convention, stressing that internal disagreements were normal in a large political party.
“There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party. Look at the umbrella, it is wide enough to accommodate everyone,” he said after inspecting the venue.
He dismissed the appeal lodged at the Supreme Court by the faction aligned with Kabiru Turaki, insisting it would not affect the planned convention.
“We have already zoned our positions. Every zone has its own slots. The presidency has been zoned to the South, while the chairmanship is zoned to the North. We believe this consensus arrangement will make the process easier,” Wike added.
He also expressed optimism about the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the PDP would surprise Nigerians.
However, the crisis within the party deepened as governors and other key stakeholders aligned with the Turaki-led bloc distanced themselves from the convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the governors-backed camp, Ini Ememobong, said Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, would not attend.
“Our leaders, governors, members of BoT, members of the National Executive Committee and others won’t attend the convention,” he said.
