24th Of March, 2026

PDP internal Crises, the cankerworm from within

The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to have begun all over again, following the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria. From a personal standpoint, the judgment seems confusing, particularly as I am not approaching it from a strictly academic or legal perspective.

While many have disagreed with aspects of the ruling, especially regarding the validity of the November congress, the same court also appeared to suggest that the PDP should resolve its issues internally, which is the general takeaway from several analyses of the judgment.

What makes the situation even more perplexing is that both parties involved in the litigation have emerged acting as though the judgment favored them. This is a significant aberration, considering that the dispute was directly between these same factions.

Furthermore, the court upheld the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. It is important to recall that this suspension also affected the Legal Adviser and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC). Ordinarily, this should have brought an end to that particular debacle.

However, Anyanwu has continued to attend meetings aligned with his faction of the PDP and has issued statements in that capacity. This is where the situation becomes even more interesting. Since Anyanwu has been suspended, it is reasonable to assume that the recognized leadership of the party is the one that issued the suspension.

By implication, that leadership should, in line with the PDP constitution, appoint a replacement in an acting capacity pending the conduct of a convention where a substantive National Secretary can be elected.

The faction associated with Nyesom Wike appears to reject this line of reasoning, interpreting the court judgment as giving it the upper hand. As of recent developments, that bloc is proceeding with preparations towards a national convention, reinforcing its claim to legitimacy.

Interestingly, there have been reports that, in a prior meeting before the escalation of these crises, Wike and his allies had suggested that the PDP should not field a presidential candidate. If true, such a proposal would be analogous to asking a student not to pass core subjects like English and Mathematics in WAEC, or advising a spouse to terminate a pregnancy, an extreme and fundamentally unreasonable position for any political party. Even if unconfirmed, the actions of the group since then have not significantly departed from political positions that align more closely with the interests surrounding the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its political survival. The broader perception is that Wike intends to remain within the PDP while undermining it from within.

The PDP operates through four key layers of authority. The Board of Trustees (BoT), currently led by Adolphus Wabara, is the highest advisory organ of the party, often described as its conscience.

It is composed of individuals who have held some of the highest offices in governance, including former presidents, vice presidents, governors, senate presidents, and speakers, and is designed to uphold moral standards and ensure adherence to the party’s constitution.

The second layer is the National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision making organ of the party outside the National Convention. It is responsible for overall administration, policy direction, and enforcement of the party’s constitution.

Its composition includes members of the NWC, state governors elected on the party’s platform, serving and former presidents and vice presidents, principal officers of the National Assembly, leadership of the BoT, state chairpersons, former governors, founding members, and other stakeholders.

The third layer is the National Working Committee (NWC), which serves as the top executive body responsible for the day to day administration and national activities of the party. It is composed of elected officials, including the National Chairman and National Secretary, and is responsible for implementing decisions of the National Convention, managing party affairs, and providing operational oversight.

The fourth and highest authority is the National Convention, which remains the supreme decision making organ of the PDP. It is responsible for electing national officers, amending the party constitution, and selecting presidential candidates. It is composed of delegates from across all states, members of the NEC, and other stakeholders, and holds final authority on major party decisions, including disciplinary actions.

Prior to the November 14 elective convention held in Ibadan, the PDP already had a divided NWC. Some members were believed to be aligned with the Wike bloc, while the faction led by Umaru Damagum maintained a different position. It is important to note, however, that the BoT under Wabara was not in contention. Given its organic nature and its existence prior to the post convention factionalization, it is reasonable to regard the Wabara led BoT as the only recognized Board of Trustees.

If this position is accepted, then it follows that both the BoT and NEC recognize only one NWC, specifically, the NWC that suspended Anyanwu and his associates, a suspension that has now been upheld by the court. This provides a basis for distinguishing between the recognized leadership and other emerging factions.

It is therefore difficult to reconcile how a suspended National Secretary, whose suspension has been affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction, continues to operate in that capacity and appears to receive recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission. By now, the PDP ought to have appointed a replacement in accordance with its constitution and formally communicated that decision to INEC for recognition.

As it stands, the Abdulrahman led NWC continues to create confusion within the party structure, effectively reducing the coherence of the PDP’s political architecture.

All parties within the PDP must recognize and adhere to the established pyramid of authority. For now, the BoT led by Wabara, the NEC led largely by PDP governors, and the NWC aligned with Damagum should constitute the core of what remains of the party’s legitimate structure.

Whether this group chooses to organize a convention in the near future or appoint a caretaker leadership should be left to what can be considered the authentic PDP.

Every other meddlesome interloper is simply feeding off the crumbs from Wike’s table, ensuring that Bola Ahmed Tinubu enjoys a smooth sail towards 2027.

MD Goyo