Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has reaffirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2026 in Abuja will go ahead as planned, despite an ongoing legal challenge by a rival faction of the party. The appeal, lodged at the Supreme Court, sought to restrain the faction backed by Wike from holding the convention, but Wike dismissed the legal bid as baseless and insisted it would not impede party plans.
The internal dispute stems from a long-running leadership crisis within the PDP, which has seen competing factions vying for control of the party’s national structures since late 2025. One faction is led by Kabiru Turaki, a senior lawyer and political figure recognised by some party members as the legitimate leadership after their national convention in Ibadan in November 2025. The other faction, aligned with Wike, operates under a caretaker committee and has sought to organise its own national convention.
Supporters of the Turaki faction filed an appeal at the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld earlier judgments that declared their Ibadan convention unlawful and barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcomes. The legal challenge aimed to prevent Wike’s faction from proceeding with its convention, citing procedural irregularities and breaches of the party’s constitution.
In public comments on March 28, after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, the venue for the PDP national convention, Wike described the Supreme Court appeal as baseless and insisted it would not stop the event. He characterised the legal action as part of broader attempts by rival PDP elements to disrupt party processes, but affirmed that the convention would proceed and that organisational activities were on track.
The leadership crisis has significantly strained the PDP, one of Nigeria’s major political parties. Conflicting court judgments have complicated matters, with some rulings recognising the Turaki faction’s Ibadan convention while others invalidated it, leading to confusion and competing claims about legitimacy. These developments have affected efforts to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Attempts to reconcile the rival factions have been made, including proposals by Wike’s faction for dialogue and initiatives from other party leaders to bridge differences before key events like the national convention and presidential primaries. However, these reconciliation efforts have struggled to overcome deep divisions within the party’s leadership.
Supporters of the Turaki faction argue that compliance with party constitutions and legal procedures is essential for internal democracy and fairness, using litigation to challenge actions perceived as illegal or unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Wike and his allies maintain that the convention is legitimate and necessary for the party to move forward with its organisational agenda.
The Supreme Court appeal remains pending and could have significant implications for the PDP’s cohesion and strategy ahead of national elections. For now, Wike’s faction is continuing with preparations, asserting that the convention will be held as scheduled and that legal challenges will not derail the party’s plans.
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