Delegates from Kebbi, Ekiti, Bauchi nd several other states on Sunday led the charge at the 2026 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was backed by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The party unveiled 19 new members of its National Working Committee at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja in a move aimed at repositioning the opposition platform.
The PDP Constitution (2017, as amended) provides for a 19-member NWC at the national level, outlining its structure and responsibilities within the party’s leadership framework.
According to Part VIII of the Constitution, the National Working Committee comprises the National Chairman, two Deputy National Chairmen, the National Secretary and Deputy National Secretary, the National Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Organising Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Auditor, Legal Adviser, Woman Leader, Youth Leader, as well as the National Vice Chairmen.
On March 25, the Wike-backed PDP adopted a consensus approach in selecting members of the National Working Committee, who will oversee the party’s affairs for the next four years.
The NWC members, along with other national positions and their respective consensus candidates, were affirmed by over 2,500 delegates as follows: National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed; Deputy National Chairman (South), Aaron Chukwuemeka; Deputy National Chairman (North), Yusufu Akirikwen (SAN); National Secretary, Anyanwu Samuel; Deputy National Secretary, Kolawale Olabisi; National Treasurer, Odeyemei Oladiran; and Deputy National Treasurer, Lado Marke.
Other positions are National Financial Secretary, Eyim Henry; Deputy National Financial Secretary, Dr Grema Kyari; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and Deputy National Organising Secretary, Efere Augustine.
Others are National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed; Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Egwu Chidiebere; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); Deputy National Legal Adviser, Aloysius Uba; National Auditor, Osuoha Donatus; Deputy National Auditor, Dr Adaba Yatu; National Youth Leader, Ibrahim Aboki; and Deputy National Youth Leader, Momoh Bashir.
The positions of the National Women Leader went to Prof Ogunshe Adedayo, while the Deputy National Women Leader is Hauwa Shinge.
Attendance at the convention, however, reflected a mix of alignment and division, as delegates from Benue, Ekiti, and Ogun States took part in the exercise, while their counterparts from Edo State and others boycotted the Convention.
In Sokoto State, the crisis within the party deepened, with the pro- acting National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature group openly defying the boycott directive and participating in the convention, further highlighting internal fractures.
Amid the tensions, key party leaders, including Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee, former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, newly elected Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammeh, PDP National Leader, Wike, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, among others, called for reconciliation and unity, stressing the need to close ranks and rebuild trust ahead of future political contests.
The Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Dr Sunday Solarin, confirmed on Sunday that some members of the opposition party were present at the national convention.
He noted that while the state chairman and party leader, Abayomi Tella and Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, are also in Abuja, he could not confirm whether they would attend the national congress being organised by the former governor of Rivers State.
Asked about state delegate participation in the Abuja Congress, Solarin said, “Some members, believing Wike controls the party, have gone to Abuja for the convention. Others, like myself, who support the Turaki-led side, have stayed away.”
Solarin added that the party chairman, Abayomi Tella, and Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, were present at the convention.
He stated that Tella and Adebutu were in Abuja and mentioned that many party members had also arrived recently.
“So, for anybody aware that I was in Abuja yesterday, could unknowingly believe that I was there to attend the convention, whereas I am right now in my residence at Ogere Remo.
“Let me also mention that both sides are also carrying on with the reconciliation efforts that are being initiated by the leadership of both sides. So, I can also affirm that the reconciliation process has not been dismantled.
“And definitely, these party leaders must be around to see through this reconciliation exercise. The leadership must be on the ground to manage the two tendencies, that is, those who believe in Wike-led leadership and those of us on the side of Turaki”.
Also, the PDP bloc in Ekiti State, led by former Governor Ayo Fayose, joined other delegates in participating in the National Convention.
The state Chairman of the PDP bloc, Lanre Omolase, who said the convention was real, said, “I am already at the venue of the convention in Abuja. We are here, the convention is holding, this is where the PDP is”.
Omolase had last week stated that his group was the genuine PDP in the state, saying, “The authentic PDP members at all levels are here with the Abduraham Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee.”
Similarly, delegates from Benue State, led by former Governor Samuel Ortom, attended the convention.
The media consultant for the party in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, disclosed this in a telephone chat with our correspondent on Sunday.
He said, “We are currently in Abuja for the ongoing party national convention. We will talk later.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party in Kebbi State has expressed support for the national convention. The State Secretary, Abubakar Bawa Kalgo, confirmed that the state chapter fully participated in the Abuja gathering, with all delegates mobilised for the two-day exercise.
“We are satisfied with the arrangements… and all our delegates participated fully,” Kalgo said.
Also, a chieftain of the PDP in Oyo State and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, confirmed that the Wike-led convention was well attended by delegates across the country.
Gbolarumi, who spoke at the convention venue on Sunday, declared that the party’s convention was well attended by the party’s delegates across the country.
He said, “The convention is simply fantastic. All the states are well represented. Even Sule Lamidi has just spoken at the convention. And Senator Bukola Saraki and some former state governors are here. There are just too many, and even some people were disallowed to enter the venue of the convention since their chairmen and other key stakeholders had been represented. We couldn’t just accommodate everyone.”
However, the Chairman of the Gombe State chapter of the PDP, Maj. Gen Mamman Kwaskebe (retd.) stated that the state’s delegates are not present at the convention due to unresolved issues.
He did not disclose the specifics of the challenges but maintained that they would not attend until the matters are resolved.
“I’m in Abuja, not at the convention. It is ongoing, quite all right, but technically, there are some challenges. Until they are identified and resolved, we will not be present. I will get back to you,” he said.
Also, the Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, stated that the state chapter did not attend the convention, describing it as illegal and urging other states to stay away.
He noted that there is a pending case before the Supreme Court yet to be determined, adding that holding a convention at this time would amount to an affront to the law.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that impostors are not part of the gathering and to verify that the list of delegates presented aligns with its records.
The chairman said, “The convention by the Wike faction is illegal as there is a case at the Supreme Court which is yet to be decided.
“I will urge the state chairman and their members not to attend the convention because it is illegal. INEC should also monitor those being paraded as delegates. They are impostors, and the list being used might not tally with the one with INEC.”
The PUNCH