ABUJA: The planned national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is scheduled to take place in Abuja on Sunday amid growing divisions within the opposition party, as several state chapters and key leaders disagree over the legitimacy of the gathering.
The convention, organised by a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is expected to attract thousands of delegates from across the country. However, the event has triggered fresh tensions within the party, with some stakeholders insisting the exercise should not proceed due to an ongoing legal dispute.
The Chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, who also leads the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, warned that the convention would violate the rule of law if it goes ahead before the conclusion of a pending case at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists, Aziegbemi described the convention as illegal and urged party members to stay away.
According to him, the faction organising the convention does not have the authority to conduct such a national exercise while the legal dispute over the party’s leadership structure remains unresolved.
“The convention being planned by the Wike faction is illegal, as there is a case before the Supreme Court that has yet to be decided,” he said.
He further advised PDP state chairmen and party members not to participate in the event, stressing that the move could undermine the party’s respect for the rule of law.
Aziegbemi also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to closely monitor the process, alleging that the individuals being presented as delegates might not correspond with the official list recognised by the electoral body.
They are impostors, and the list being used might not tally with the one submitted to INEC, he alleged.
The division within the party became more evident as the PDP chapter in Sokoto State announced that it would boycott the convention entirely.
The state’s Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sanyinawal, said the Sokoto chapter had decided to remain neutral in the leadership dispute currently rocking the party.
He explained that the decision to stay away from the Abuja convention was consistent with the chapter’s earlier stance during the previous convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
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,” Sanyinawal said.
Despite the boycott by some states, several other PDP chapters confirmed their intention to participate in the convention.
The chairman of the party in Kwara State, Isa Bawa, said the decision to attend followed extensive consultations among stakeholders in the state.
Bawa explained that party leaders in Kwara carefully deliberated on whether their delegates should attend the convention, particularly after the state’s participation in the earlier gathering in Ibadan.
He said the stakeholders eventually agreed that delegates from the state should fully participate in the Abuja convention scheduled for March 29.
The stakeholders agreed that we should send our delegates to participate fully in the forthcoming national convention in Abuja,” Bawa said.
According to him, the outcome of the convention would help shape the next steps for the party as it seeks to resolve its internal challenges and reposition itself for future elections.
Similarly, the PDP chapter in Kebbi State confirmed that it would attend the convention.
The state secretary, Abubakar Kalgo, said delegates from Kebbi had already been mobilised and were prepared to participate fully in the exercise.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, Kalgo said the decision to attend the convention was unanimously taken by key stakeholders of the party in the state.
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 chapter aligns with the Wike-led faction, Kalgo declined to give a direct response but maintained that the state remained committed to participating in national party activities.
The PDP chairman in Osun State, Sunday Bisi, also confirmed that the state chapter would take part in the convention.
Bisi said he had been involved in meetings related to the exercise and planned to attend the event in Abuja.
About 2,500 delegates are expected at the convention, which will take place at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
During the gathering, party members are expected to affirm the Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Acting National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and 17 other officials as members of the National Working Committee.
The PDP constitution provides for a 19-member National Working Committee, including positions such as National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, National Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Organizing Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Auditor, Legal Adviser, Women Leader, Youth Leader and National Vice Chairmen representing various zones.
Earlier reports indicated that the faction aligned with Wike adopted a consensus approach in selecting candidates for the various positions.
The officials emerging from the convention are expected to lead the party for the next four years.
Speaking after inspecting the convention venue, Wike expressed optimism that internal reconciliation would continue after the exercise.
According to him, disagreements within a large political party are normal and should not be viewed as unusual.
The PDP is a very large party. The umbrella is wide enough to accommodate everyone, he said.
Wike also dismissed the appeal filed at the Supreme Court by a faction aligned with Kabiru Turaki, insisting that the legal action would not stop the convention from holding.
He added that the party had already concluded zoning arrangements for key positions.
According to him, the presidential ticket has been zoned to the southern region, while the position of national chairman has been allocated to the northern region.
Wike expressed confidence that the consensus arrangement would help streamline the process and reduce internal contestation.
The minister also said he remained optimistic about the party’s chances in the 2027 Nigerian general elections, adding that the PDP would surprise many Nigerians.
Despite these assurances, the crisis within the PDP appears to be deepening as some governors and prominent stakeholders have distanced themselves from the convention.
The spokesperson of the governors-backed bloc, Ini Ememobong, said several key figures would not attend the gathering.
According to him, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed; and the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, would not participate.
He said several other leaders, including members of the party’s National Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees, had also decided to stay away from the convention.
Our leaders, governors, members of the Board of Trustees and members of the National Executive Committee will not attend the convention, Ememobong stated.
The disagreement over the convention underscores the continuing leadership crisis within the PDP, raising questions about the party’s unity as it prepares for future electoral contests.
