Leaders of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with Nyesom Wike have called for unity within the party as preparations begin for the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was made during the 86th meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), where party elders discussed ways to stabilise the PDP after months of internal leadership disputes.
The BoT Chairman, Mao Ohuabunwa, described the meeting as an important moment for the party and urged members to stay calm and respect the party’s constitution.
He said the board plays a key role in protecting the party’s values, integrity, and institutional memory.
Ohuabunwa noted that recent ward and local government congresses held across the country were peaceful and transparent. According to him, the exercises show that the PDP still maintains strong grassroots participation and democratic practices.
He added that the upcoming state congresses scheduled for the weekend would further strengthen the party’s structures nationwide.
National convention preparations
Ohuabunwa also spoke about the PDP national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, noting that the event would help reposition the party and reaffirm its commitment to democracy, unity, and national service.
On legal matters, he referred to the recent decision of the Court of Appeal (Nigeria), which affirmed the leadership of the National Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
According to him, the court rulings have brought clarity and stability to the party’s leadership crisis.
He also encouraged party members to take part in the ongoing electronic membership registration, saying a strong and well-documented membership base is necessary to build a more organised and responsive party.
Ohuabunwa emphasised the responsibility of party elders to guide members and ensure that decisions taken are in the best interest of the party and Nigerians.
Call for unity before 2027 elections
Speaking at the meeting, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), also urged party members to work together as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
He said the committee recently inspected the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as part of preparations for the national convention.
Mohammed also revealed that the PDP recently secured victory in nine appeals at the Court of Appeal.
He insisted that the National Caretaker Working Committee remains the only recognised national leadership body of the party and the only body authorised to present candidates in the 2027 elections.
He urged party leaders and members to support the committee as preparations continue.
The NCWC chairman said the committee would wait for the Certified True Copy of the court judgments before deciding its next steps, including the possibility of further legal action at the Supreme Court of Nigeria if necessary.
He also appealed to party stakeholders to stop filing lawsuits that could slow down preparations for upcoming elections.
Background to the crisis
The meeting comes amid a prolonged leadership crisis in the PDP that began in November 2025.
Earlier, PDP governors supported a convention held in Ibadan on November 15, which produced Kabiru Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure.
Leadership was transferred from former Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9.
However, a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), later created a 13-member caretaker committee, naming Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary.
Attempts by both factions to hold meetings at the PDP National Secretariat later turned chaotic, forcing the Nigeria Police Force to seal the building.
The dispute eventually went to court. On March 9, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Ibadan convention violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP’s constitution. The court therefore nullified the convention that produced Kabiru Turaki and his leadership team.
