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PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike Bloc Installs New Leadership at Abuja Convention

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 30th, 2026.

The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Sunday as a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, went ahead to inaugurate a new National Working Committee (NWC) at a convention held in Abuja.

The gathering, which took place at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, saw the emergence of 19 national officers, in line with the party’s constitutional structure. Delegates from several states, including Kebbi, Bauchi, Ekiti, and Benue, were present, lending weight to the exercise despite ongoing disputes within the party.

According to The Punch, the leadership list was largely produced through a consensus arrangement, a strategy the Wike-aligned bloc has consistently defended as a way to stabilise the party. Over 2,500 delegates reportedly endorsed the new officials, with Abdulrahman Mohammed emerging as National Chairman.

Other key positions filled include deputy national chairmen for both the North and South, national secretary, treasurer, publicity secretary, legal adviser, youth leader, and women leader, among others — completing the 19-member structure предусмотрено in the PDP constitution.

However, the convention exposed deep divisions within the opposition party. While some state chapters actively participated, others stayed away, questioning the legitimacy of the exercise. Premium Times reported that the Edo State chapter rejected the convention outright, describing it as unlawful and warning that it could worsen the party’s internal crisis.

In Ogun State, the divide was equally evident. Some party leaders attended the convention, while others aligned with the rival Turaki-led faction distanced themselves from the process. Similar cracks emerged in Sokoto, where a faction defied the state leadership’s boycott directive and joined the Abuja gathering.

Despite the disagreements, prominent figures at the convention called for unity. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki urged aggrieved members to set aside differences and rally around the party’s future, noting that the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lent credibility to the process.

Also speaking, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu stressed that reconciliation remains critical to the PDP’s survival, describing the convention as an opportunity to rebuild trust and reposition the party ahead of future elections.

Wike, a central figure in the faction, commended party loyalists for standing firm through the crisis, saying the convention marked the beginning of a rebuilding process. He emphasised the need for inclusiveness and collective commitment to restore the party’s strength.

The leadership tussle within the PDP has lingered for months, with rival factions holding parallel conventions and challenging each other in court. As noted by Channels Television, recent appellate rulings invalidated an earlier convention held by the opposing bloc, further complicating the situation.

With both sides still asserting legitimacy, the latest development is expected to intensify the struggle for control of the party, even as calls for reconciliation continue to grow louder within its ranks.