Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu have been re-elected as the substantive National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Both men emerged by consensus, alongside 19 other members of the party’s new National Working Committee, at the PDP’s 2026 national convention held on Sunday at the velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Prominent party figures in attendance included former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and former Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makarfi, among others.
Addressing delegates, Wike, identified as the party’s national leader, declared that healing within the PDP had begun. He also assured members that the party would participate in the 2027 general elections.
“Several speakers, including Saraki and Abba Moro, have asked whether the PDP will contest the 2027 elections,” Wike said. “I have assured Senator Saraki that, by the grace of God, the PDP will be on the ballot. What we have witnessed here is a legitimate convention, monitored by the electoral umpire and duly recognised.”
He emphasised that the party’s future must be anchored on inclusiveness and equal opportunity for all members, while commending delegates for their conduct.
The former Rivers State governor further vowed that the party would reclaim its mandate from those who had taken it.
“I congratulate those who stood firm through the storm,” he said. “You showed resilience when it mattered most and refused to be discouraged, even when some who claimed to be leaders betrayed the party. Despite the taunts of critics, we remain united and committed to building a truly prosperous Nigeria.”
Unity over division
In his acceptance remarks, Mohammed pledged to lead an inclusive party that belongs to all members.
“Today, we choose a higher path, unity over division, inclusiveness over exclusion, and renewal over decline,” he said.
“The PDP has not come here to mourn itself but to renew itself. This convention is not merely about elections or positions; it is about restoration and order.”
He described the gathering as a moment of reflection and responsibility following a turbulent period marked by internal disagreements and legal disputes.
Chairman of the convention planning committee and former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, revealed that 2,035 delegates attended the event. He added that the party’s reconciliation efforts would continue beyond the convention.
Leadership crisis
The PDP has been grappling with an internal crisis that resulted in the emergence of two factions. One faction, led by Tanimu Turaki and backed by Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed, claims leadership, while the other is aligned with Wike.
The dispute intensified after a controversial convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025, which triggered a series of legal battles.
On March 9, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a Federal High Court ruling that barred the PDP from conducting the Ibadan convention. Subsequently, on March 23, a three-member appellate panel dismissed the party’s appeal challenging the lower court’s jurisdiction.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam ruled that the PDP had violated constitutional provisions governing the conduct of its convention.
The Turaki faction has since approached the Supreme Court to contest the ruling.
