A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will meet in Abuja on Sunday to discuss plans for a caretaker committee and preparations for a national convention.
Several senior members of the group told our correspondent that the meeting is meant to address the expected expiration of the tenure of the National Working Committee elected in 2021, which officially ends on December 9.
This development comes as the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC, elected at the Ibadan convention after the shutdown of the Wadata Plaza national secretariat, has already opened a new operational base in Abuja.
Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi backed the Ibadan convention, where Turaki and other officials were elected on November 16 to serve a four-year term.
But Wike-backed leaders Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu insist they remain the Acting National Chairman and National Secretary. They argue that the Ibadan convention was not properly convened and therefore cannot stand.
Although PDP governors ensured that former National Chairman Umar Damagum handed over to Turaki before the December 9 deadline, sources said Wike’s camp is pushing ahead with its own plans to keep control of the party.
One senior member of the faction, who asked not to be named, confirmed that party loyalists have already arrived in Abuja for the meeting.
He said, “As leaders and stakeholders of this party, we cannot fold our hands and watch things deteriorate. You know the original tenure is supposed to end on the 9th of December. So, ahead of the date, the leaders are going to meet.
“As we speak, our people are already in Abuja. We are scheduled to meet on Sunday through Monday, where we will deliberate on all the important issues affecting the party.”
He added that the group plans to discuss caretaker arrangements, the possibility of a convention, NEC meetings, and state congresses.
“We will consider several conversations around setting up a caretaker committee, convention, NEC, and other congresses in the states. This is because the PDP remains a formidable party, and we will not allow a few individuals to hijack it for their selfish interests ahead of the 2027 election,” he said. “Our collective responsibility is to safeguard internal democracy and protect our structure.”
A member of the Turaki-led NWC also confirmed they were aware of the plans from Wike’s camp.
He said, “We know that their plan is to set up a caretaker committee, and they are already preparing to meet on Sunday and Monday. This illegality will not stand the test of time. The rightful process and established party structures will ultimately prevail.”
The power struggle led to the shutdown of the Wadata Plaza secretariat on November 19. Since then, the Turaki-led NWC has been operating from a temporary office on Owo Close near AMAC in Area 10, Abuja, where they say they will remain until the secretariat is reopened.
