Factional convention produces new NWC as PDP leadership crisis deepens ahead of 2027 elections.
By Baron Stanley Eloagu | Abuja, Nigeria
Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu have emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a convention backed by Nyesom Wike.
The elections, held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, come amid a deepening leadership crisis within the party, raising fresh questions about its unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Over 2,000 delegates participated in the PDP’s 2026 national convention, where Mohammed and Anyanwu, alongside 19 other National Working Committee (NWC) members, were elected through a consensus process.
The convention drew key party figures, including Bukola Saraki, Sule Lamido, and Ahmed Makarfi.
Addressing delegates, Wike, widely seen as a central figure in the faction, declared that the PDP’s recovery process had begun and assured members of the party’s participation in the 2027 elections.
“We have seen the real convention… the one monitored by the electoral umpire. The PDP will be on the ballot in 2027,” he said.
Leadership Pledge and Party Repositioning
In his acceptance remarks, Mohammed called for unity and inclusiveness, describing the convention as a turning point for the party.
“We choose inclusiveness over exclusion, unity over division, and renewal over decline,” he said, noting that the PDP must rebuild trust and reposition itself as a viable political force.
The chairman of the convention planning committee, Okezie Ikpeazu, stated that reconciliation efforts would continue after the convention, emphasizing that the party’s doors remain open to aggrieved members.
Deepening Leadership Crisis
The PDP has remained divided into two major factions. One group, backed by Wike, organised the Abuja convention, while another faction led by Tanimu Turaki and supported by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, continues to contest the party’s leadership structure.
The crisis escalated following a disputed convention in Ibadan in November 2025, which triggered multiple legal battles.
On March 23, the Court of Appeal upheld a Federal High Court ruling restraining the PDP from conducting the Ibadan convention, citing violations of constitutional provisions. The Turaki-led faction has since approached the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment.
The emergence of parallel leadership structures underscores ongoing instability within the PDP, potentially weakening its electoral strength ahead of 2027. The party’s ability to resolve internal disputes will be critical to its competitiveness against rival political forces.
![Nigerian military prepares to cordon the area where a man was killed by suspected rebel fighters during an attack around the Polo area of Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 2019 [File: Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]](https://a1news.com.ng/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Nigeria-military-on-patrol.webp)
Leave a Reply