The pro-Wike faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified its push for control on Sunday as leaders loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, held a strategic meeting in Abuja.
The meeting took place at Wike’s official residence and brought together key figures including former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Deputy Speaker Uche Nwuche, PDP Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) from across the country and the FCT.
In his opening remarks, BoT Chairman Senator Mao Ohuabunwa urged party elders to put aside personal sentiments and work with unity of purpose to stabilise the troubled opposition party.
He said the BoT had made significant progress in forming caretaker committees, structures he described as essential for organising congresses in states where they have not been conducted.
Ohuabunwa, who represented Abia North in the Eighth Senate, added that sanctions had been imposed on individuals whose actions undermined the party’s peace, stressing that such measures were necessary to protect the PDP from internal sabotage and rebuild members’ confidence nationwide.
“Recent actions taken in the party reflect our unyielding resolve to uphold the rule of law and defend the constitution of the PDP,” he said.
“Our duty is clear: consolidate the reforms underway, deepen internal cohesion, and ensure the PDP emerges stronger and united. The BoT remains the moral compass of our party, and we must ensure strict obedience to the laws of the federation, the PDP constitution, and INEC guidelines.”
The PDP remains engulfed in a leadership crisis, with two factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership.
The Wike-backed faction is led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, while another faction aligned with former Justice Minister Kabiru Turaki enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
No court has yet ruled on the legitimacy of either side, leaving the party’s leadership tussle unresolved.
