The Peoples Democratic Party faces a fresh constitutional crisis as two Board of Trustees (BoT) factions issue conflicting directives following a Supreme Court judgment that nullified past conventions.
ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been thrust into a deepening leadership crisis as two opposing factions within its Board of Trustees (BoT) issued conflicting claims of authority following a high-stakes Supreme Court judgment delivered on Thursday.
The Senator Adolphus Wabara-led BoT announced it has officially assumed the national leadership of the party. In a statement released in Abuja, the Wabara group asserted that its intervention was a “constitutional necessity” to prevent a leadership vacuum. This move followed the apex court’s decision to invalidate the November 2025 Ibadan convention, which had produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the Wabara faction, the Supreme Court’s ruling also upheld the suspensions of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade. They argue that this ruling nullifies all subsequent actions taken by these officials, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting National Chairman and the outcomes of the March 29 national convention in Abuja.
Citing Section 32(5) of the PDP Constitution, the Wabara-led BoT declared itself the “Second Highest Organ” and the only surviving statutory authority.
Emergency NEC Meeting: The group has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee to appoint an interim NWC.
Staff Directive: All PDP secretariat staff have been directed to report for duty under the BoT’s leadership to ensure the party meets the timelines set by the Electoral Act, 2026 for the 2027 general elections.
In a swift counter-response, a separate BoT faction backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike reached a diametrically opposed conclusion. Led by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, this group maintained that the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led NWC remains the valid and stabilizing authority of the party.
Ohuabunwa argued that while the Supreme Court did nullify the Ibadan convention, the legal position affirms the Mohammed-led structure as the legitimate leadership. He called the apex court’s ruling a “moment for discipline” and urged the NWC to immediately constitute a National Reconciliation Committee to reach out to aggrieved members.
The dual claims of authority leave the PDP in a state of legal and administrative limbo. The Wabara faction has characterized the current situation as a “trying time” and called for members to sheathe their swords in the interest of Nigerian democracy. Conversely, the Ohuabunwa faction insists that the party remains “fully functional” under its recognized organs.
As both sides interpret the Supreme Court’s “unpleasant judgment” to support their respective positions, the party’s ability to field candidates and present a united front for the 2027 elections remains under significant threat. All eyes now turn to the scheduled emergency NEC meeting and the potential for further judicial clarification to break the deadlock.
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