The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party escalated on Tuesday as governors in the party distanced themselves from the emergence of consensus candidates backed by Nyesom Wike, insisting on legal action to challenge the process.
The development follows the announcement of Samuel Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed as consensus candidates for National Secretary and National Chairman, respectively, by the Wike-aligned faction ahead of the party’s March 29–30 national convention.
Sources within the governors-backed National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki revealed that they are preparing to pursue all available legal avenues to overturn the process, describing it as flawed and unconstitutional.
The PDP has remained divided for nearly a year, with two rival factions laying claim to leadership of the party. The governors’ camp, supported by Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, had earlier conducted a convention in Ibadan on November 16, where Turaki and other officials were elected into the National Working Committee.
However, the Wike-led faction rejected the outcome and subsequently established a caretaker committee in December, appointing Abdulrahman Mohammed and Anyanwu in acting capacities to oversee party affairs pending a fresh convention.
The leadership tussle has since moved to the courts. On March 9, the Court of Appeal, in a judgment delivered by a panel led by Mohammed Danjuma, upheld an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court which nullified the Ibadan convention for breaching the Electoral Act, the Constitution, and the PDP constitution.
In a separate ruling, another panel of the appellate court led by Biobele Georgewill encouraged parties involved in the dispute to explore an amicable settlement.
Despite initial signs of reconciliation, fresh disagreements have stalled peace efforts. A source within the governors’ camp disclosed that talks broke down after the Wike faction insisted that all members must participate in the planned convention by purchasing nomination forms and contesting positions.
“As far as we are concerned, that convention process is fundamentally flawed and illegal,” the source said, adding that the group would rely on legal provisions in the party constitution, Electoral Act, and Nigeria’s Constitution to challenge the process.
Meanwhile, insiders in the Wike camp disclosed that all geopolitical zones had agreed on consensus candidates for key National Working Committee positions. The positions were reportedly zoned, with the National Chairman allocated to the North-Central and the National Secretary to the South-East.
The source further detailed how various zones agreed on positions through consensus arrangements, with party leaders pushing for unity ahead of the convention.
At the North-Central caucus meeting, Abdulrahman Mohammed reportedly emerged as the preferred candidate for National Chairman, following appeals by Wike for other aspirants, including former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, to step aside.
When contacted, the Wike-backed PDP Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, described consensus as the best approach for selecting party leaders, noting that key organs of the party support the method.
“As far as we are concerned, we believe consensus is the best way to go… whether it is an intraparty working committee or primary elections,” he said.
With both factions maintaining hardline positions and legal battles looming, the PDP faces mounting uncertainty as it approaches its national convention, raising concerns about its unity and readiness for future electoral contests.
