PDP crisis deepens as Inec recognises caretaker committee backed by Wike's faction

NIGERIA'S main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another major setback as the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has recognised a factional caretaker committee backed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike.

Over the last year, the PDP has been wracked by internal strife and all attempts to unite the warring factions have proved abortive. One faction is backed by Mr Wike, while the other is backed by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and in November at a party convention in Ibadan, the split developed into open warfare.

At the convention, following the adoption of a motion moved by its former board of trustees chairman, Chief Bode George, the party expelled Mr Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, ex-national vice chairman (south-south) Chief Dan Orbih and a handful of others. PDP governors in attendance at the convention included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).

However, the Wike faction refused to accept the results of the convention, saying the expulsions were just an attempt by Governor Makinde to exert more control over the party. They responded by declaring that governors Makinde and Lawal have now been expelled alongside Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

In addition, the Wike faction also announced the dissolution of the party executives in Oyo, Bauchi, Ekiti, Zamfara, Edo and Lagos states. With Inec now recognising the caretaker committee backed by the Wike faction, it is unclear who the party leaders are and how it will organise itself for general elections next year.

Before today, the Makinde faction has backed former Jigawa State governor Tanimu Turaki as the PDP national chairman. This camp is now furious with the Inec decision which had recognised the caretaker committee, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and secretary Samuel Anyanwu, inviting them for the quarterly meeting of the political parties with the commission.

At the recent meeting between Inec and Nigeria's political parties, Mr Mohammed was seen occupying a front row seat designated PDP chairman, while Mr Anyanwu sat behind him on a seat labelled PDP national secretary. Mr Anyanwu said that the caretaker committee was set to assume control of Wadata Plaza, the national headquarters of the party, next Monday.

He added:  “Yes, we were invited yesterday as the recognised leadership of the PDP and we are here to participate in this crucial consultative meeting between Inec and political parties to deliberate on party matters and electoral issues. The recent court judgment has effectively resolved the crisis that had been affecting the PDP.

"The party’s leadership remains intact under Abdulrahman Mohammed and me and we are fully prepared to reposition the party ahead of future elections. Last Friday, as a matter of fact, the Federal High Court made it very clear that the problem of leadership is over because the so-called convention of November 15th, 16th, 2025, is a nullity and that no other person should parade himself or herself as a member of the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP.

“That the only recognised body of the PDP that has the full powers to speak for the party, to work for the party, is the NWC led by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed. Police took over the national secretariat and then the other group went to court to ask the police to reopen it but the matter was dismissed because they had no locus. So, by Monday, we are taking over the office."

Mr Anyanwu assured party supporters that resolving the crisis would enable the PDP to present candidates in the forthcoming elections. However, the governors aligned with the Turaki-led NWC have begun considering legal action, with its spokesperson Ini Ememobong, calling the Inec move unconstitutional and provocative.