PDP crisis: 3,000 delegates set for high-stakes convention

Tension is mounting in the factional camps of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party as more than 3,000 delegates prepare to converge on the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State for the party’s national elective convention, The PUNCH has learnt.

The event, billed for November 15 and 16, 2025, has been a subject of controversy among the two warring camps in the party.

On one hand is the National Working Committee led by the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, which enjoys the support of the PDP Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees, and the Forum of State Chairmen, among others.

Though outnumbered by the Damagum-led camp, the faction led by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is wielding tremendous influence, having elected its own chairman, daring the governors to their faces.

Penultimate Friday, Justice James Omotosho delivered a ruling restraining the leadership of the party from going ahead with the planned convention. It also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from monitoring it, arguing that the PDP failed to comply with its own rules, which require certain designated officers to notify INEC of the convention.

Following the ruling, the Damagum-led NWC suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature for a period of one month for alleged anti-party activities.

Twenty-four hours later, Anyanwu and his camp met in Abuja and announced the suspension of Damagum and the entire NWC.

The faction also named the PDP Deputy National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, as the party’s new acting National Chairman.

As the two camps square up against each other, the Damagum-led faction secured an ex parte order granted by Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court last week, directing the PDP to proceed with the convention.

Thus, while Damagum, backed by the governors, BoT members, and state chairmen, are preparing for the convention, Wike, Anyanwu and others insist the convention would not hold.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, an official at the PDP secretariat with knowledge of the crisis, said more than 3,000 delegates would gather in Ibadan to elect new leaders for the party.

He said, “More than 3,000 delegates are participating, and don’t forget that there are super delegates and elected delegates.

“Super delegates are former this and former that, and the PDP has many of them in every state of the federation.

“When you hear people whose only interest is to destroy the party saying that congresses were not conducted in some states and so those states are disenfranchised, it’s all lies because we still have many former members of this and that in those states.”

The source, who is aligned with the Damagum-led group, said the convention would hold because Justice Akintola’s order is the most current of the two conflicting court rulings.

He added, “There are two court orders from courts of concurrent jurisdiction. In law, the party is at liberty to choose which of the orders to obey, while other lawyers say the last order (or the most current) is the most valid since it’s from a concurrent court.”

He noted that Anyanwu, having been suspended by the leadership of the party, should be seen as leading a renegade group, adding, “Anybody paying attention to the group is doing so for political reasons.

“In line with the constitution of the PDP, the NWC meeting is at the instance of the National Chairman, and the National Chairman in this case is Umar Damagum.

“In view of the above, 14 out of 17 remaining members of the NWC met on November 1, 2025, and suspended Anyanwu, Bature, Ajibade, and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Onuoha.

“By our laws, the deputies are not NWC members except the Deputy National Secretary.  So, three members out of 17 cannot form a quorum to make a decision. Moreover, those three members are even suspended, and with their suspension, they lose every right to participate in party meetings.”

He urged the media to stop referring to the Wike-backed group as a faction, noting that to form one, “It must occur during a valid national convention of the party. The members must break out at the convention ground in the same venue and date, and not what Wike and his destroyers-in-chief are doing. By law, there is no faction in the party.”

Also speaking, another official of the party with knowledge of the matter, said the outcome of a series of meetings during the week would point the way forward for the party.

He said, “I can’t be categorical on the situation of things now, given that there are certain committees handling reconciliations amongst the contending groups, and one cannot predict the outcomes from such ongoing dialogues.

“Consequently, I believe that on or before Wednesday this week, we will all know what’s going on and the way forward from the leaders concerning the convention.”

He, however, stated that the convention would go a long way in repositioning the PDP.

“As a loyal party member and an official, the PDP surely needs the existing NWC to conduct a good national convention that will usher in a new set of NWC members to avoid further disruption of things in the party,” he added.

Source: Punch