PDP Leaders Begin Reconciliation Talks After Appeal Court Ruling

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, including governors and allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have started discussions on how to resolve the party’s leadership crisis after the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The talks began shortly after the ruling delivered on Monday and are aimed at finding a path that will keep the party united ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sources within the party said leaders from the two major factions are holding several meetings to find common ground. The discussions are focusing on two possible options: forming a single caretaker committee that will represent all sides or organising a national convention that will bring members together and elect new leaders.

Party members involved in the talks said the goal is to avoid further division that could weaken the party before the next elections.

The crisis within the party grew after the national convention held in Ibadan on November 15, where Tanimu Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee were elected for a four-year term.

The governors had supported that convention and supervised the transition of leadership from the former acting chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before the end of Damagum’s tenure.

However, supporters of the FCT minister rejected the arrangement and later announced a 13-member caretaker committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman as acting national chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary. The committee was given a short mandate to oversee party affairs.

Tension between both camps later escalated when attempts to hold separate meetings at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja turned chaotic.

Security agencies eventually sealed the building, leaving the party without access to its headquarters while the leadership dispute continued.

Both factions later approached the courts after the Independent National Electoral Commission refused to recognise either group as the legitimate leadership of the party. The matter went through legal processes until the Court of Appeal delivered its ruling.

The appellate court upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which found that the processes that produced the leadership at the Ibadan convention did not follow the provisions of the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution. As a result, the outcome of the convention was nullified.

Following the judgment, members from different parts of the party began exploring ways to bring the factions together. Leaders from the Wike camp indicated that discussions about reconciliation had already started and that the aim was to rebuild unity within the party.

Members close to the PDP governors also confirmed that reconciliation efforts were ongoing. They explained that their interest is to ensure that the party remains strong enough to present candidates for various positions in the 2027 elections and continue functioning as an opposition party in the country.

Meanwhile, the acting national secretary of the caretaker committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said preparations for the party’s national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 in Abuja were moving forward.

During an inspection of the venue at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, he assured party members and aspirants that the party would soon have a fully recognised leadership structure.

The caretaker committee chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, also appealed to members of the party to remain united and work together.

He maintained that the caretaker committee remains the lawful leadership of the party and urged members and supporters to support the ongoing efforts to reposition the PDP ahead of the next elections.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki also appealed to leaders of the party to put aside their differences and find a common solution that would protect the future of the party. He advised that prolonged legal battles could affect the party’s ability to complete the process of nominating candidates within the timetable set by the electoral body.

Saraki explained that the most practical option would be for leaders to stop further disputes in court and work toward organising a national convention that would comply with the guidelines of the electoral commission.

At the same time, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, together with other party leaders, met in Abuja to discuss the way forward.

During the meeting, members agreed that the recent court ruling presents an opportunity for the party to reorganise and rebuild its leadership structure.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, speaking on behalf of the PDP Governors Forum, admitted that the party was going through a difficult period but said the situation would eventually pass.

According to him, party leaders must consider how their decisions during this period will shape the future of the PDP and Nigeria’s democracy.

The expanded meeting of the Board of Trustees, which included members of the National Working Committee, state governors and party officials, is expected to continue as leaders try to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

Party officials say the discussions will determine whether a unity convention or a harmonised caretaker committee will be adopted as the next step in resolving the dispute.