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Two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have clashed over the party’s legitimate leadership, with one backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the other by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The dispute follows FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s media chat, in which he accused the Seyi Makinde-backed faction of deceit and fraud. He also declared Abdulrahman Mohammed the legitimate party leader and challenged the rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki to open a bank account and establish a secretariat.
In separate interviews on Arise News and News Central TV, Chinwe Nnorom, national director of publicity for the Abdulrahman-led faction, and Umar Sani, a chieftain of the Turaki-led PDP, each argued that their faction is the legitimate leadership of the party.
Nnorom, in an interview with News Central on Thursday, said the actions of the Turaki-led PDP contravene the party’s constitution. She also argued that the convention held by the Makinde-backed faction was illegal.
“The Abdulrahman-led National Working Committee is legitimate, is legally recognised and accepted, stems from the Federal High Court judgment that first nullified the convention in Ibadan and at the same time recognised the NWC led by Abdurrahman as the only legitimate body at that time to govern the affairs of the party until it can hold a recognised National Convention,” she told News Central.
“And that’s what transpired, culminating on March 29-30 with a legal convention. The INEC was also compelled in that very judgment, in that order, to recognise the Abdulrahman-led leadership. And they were on the ground to monitor the national convention on the 29th and 30th of March 2025.”
Sani of the Turaki-led PDP told Arise News that the Wike-led faction does not have the party’s documents, as claimed. He also countered Wike’s claims that the Turaki-led faction lacked a bank account and a secretariat.
He revealed that his faction has a secretariat in Area 10 in the FCT. Sani also alleged that the Wike-led faction sells nomination forms for cash.
“Wike cannot claim to have the documents of the party. Because, by our party constitution, that responsibility is bestowed on the Board of Trustees (BoT), and before the BoT, after I had questioned why we were falling back on our BoT for reconciliation, they decided to form their BoT. Our BoT, led by Wabarwa, is the conscience of the party. Does Wike have documents that he is holding? He’s trying to impress Nigerians. The document is with the BoT, which is the party’s conscience,” said Sani.
“If Wike is sure they are the legitimate owners of the party, let them ask those buying forms from them to secure a bank draft and pay into the PDP, if it’s not coming into our own account. They collect cash or ask their state chapters to collect money and pay into their account. They don’t have a national account. We have an office, and it is in Area 10. Wike knows the office.”
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. The rival factions have been engaged in prolonged lawsuits.
