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The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, Nyesom Wike has declared Abdulrahman Mohammed as the legitimate chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, during a media chat on Wednesday, discussed the PDP’s internal crisis and criticised the party’s rival faction, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
The PDP has been embroiled in an internal crisis since 2023, following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate. A group of governors led by Wike demanded the resignation of the national chairman.
Since then, the party has been split into factions, one backed by Wike and another backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. The rise of factions has triggered prolonged lawsuits over the party’s leadership legitimacy.
Makinde’s faction, at its 2025 convention in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, elected a new National Working Committee (NWC). A Federal High Court had restrained the convention, but Makinde’s faction went ahead despite the court order.
It thereafter installed Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the factional National Chairman. The Wike-backed faction has also disputed the Turaki-led PDP.
Mohammed was elected as the substantive National Chairman of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on March 29, 2026, backed by Wike. Makinde’s faction also questions the legitimacy of the Mohammed-led faction.
When asked during the media chat who the party’s legitimate leader is, Wike said Mohammed holds the position.
“Abdulrahman is the chairman of the party,” said Wike.
He added that the party is contesting elective seats in Rivers State despite claims of the party’s non-existence.
Wike also dared the Turaki-led PDP to establish a secretariat and open a bank account for the party.
“Let Turaki as a Senior Advocate, open an account of PDP. That day that suit will move. If I dare him open an account. Tell Nigerians that party people this is the account where you pay your money for people. Let him open PDP account,” he dared.
“Let me dare them. Open office anywhere in Abuja. You don’t do secretariat in your bedroom or in your parlour. If you say you are a party. Go and put a sign in the national secretariat. If you are saying you want to sell form. To whom?”
