ABUJA: The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened after several governors in the party rejected the move by a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike to adopt consensus candidates for key national leadership positions ahead of the party’s convention.
The dispute threatens to deepen divisions within Nigeria’s main opposition party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Sources within the PDP revealed that the governors’ camp has distanced itself from the consensus arrangement reportedly endorsed by the Wike-backed faction.
The faction aligned with Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is backing Abdulrahman Mohammed as the consensus candidate for National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu for National Secretary.
However, influential governors, including Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, have reportedly rejected the arrangement, insisting that the process violates party rules and should be challenged legally.
Party insiders aligned with the governors said they are prepared to explore all legal avenues to overturn the decision.
The PDP has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership battle that has split the party into two rival camps.
The governors’ faction earlier conducted a convention on November 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other officials were elected into the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
However, the Wike-led bloc rejected the exercise and later set up a 13-member National Caretaker Committee, naming Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman and Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary to manage the party pending a fresh convention.
The dispute escalated after the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on March 9 nullifying the Ibadan convention.
A panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma upheld an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which found that the process leading to the convention violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP constitution.
The ruling effectively invalidated the election of Turaki and the entire National Working Committee that emerged from the convention.
In a related decision, another appellate panel led by Justice Biobele Georgewill encouraged both factions to seek an amicable settlement to end the dispute.
Despite the court ruling and ongoing reconciliation talks, the Wike camp has continued preparations for the party’s national convention scheduled for March 29–30 in Abuja.
According to sources within the faction, party leaders agreed to zone the position of National Chairman to the North-Central region and National Secretary to the South-East.
The North-Central caucus has reportedly adopted Abdulrahman Mohammed as its consensus candidate for chairman, following appeals by Wike to party leaders such as Samuel Ortom and Philip Salawu to step aside in his favour.
Supporters of the arrangement argue that adopting consensus candidates will reduce internal conflicts and save the party the cost and tension associated with competitive elections.
Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo‑Hashim has warned that holding another factional convention could further divide the party.
He urged the Wike faction to honour earlier agreements aimed at organising a unity convention and cautioned that ignoring reconciliation efforts could threaten the survival of the PDP.
Olawepo-Hashim also raised concerns about alleged attempts to interfere with state party structures in states such as Plateau State, Nasarawa State, Kaduna State and Kano State.
According to him, imposing parallel leadership structures in those states could worsen the party’s internal crisis ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, has called on PDP leaders to embrace reconciliation and unity.
Speaking after the party’s 107th National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, Nwuche urged aggrieved leaders and members to bury the hatchet” and prioritise the party’s survival.
He emphasised that unity within the PDP is crucial if the opposition party hopes to rebuild its strength and remain competitive in the 2027 general elections.
The former deputy speaker also urged party leaders to use the upcoming national convention as an opportunity to heal divisions and create a unified leadership structure capable of repositioning the PDP ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Political analysts say the deepening divisions within the PDP could weaken its chances of mounting a strong challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections if the crisis is not resolved soon.
With competing leadership structures, court battles, and disagreements over the convention process, the party faces a crucial test of unity at a time when opposition cohesion is widely viewed as essential to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
