PDP Factions Set for Showdown as Parallel NEC Meetings Hold Today

The deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party escalated on Monday as opposing blocs loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike fixed separate National Executive Committee meetings for today at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. Both sides continue to claim control of the party following Saturday’s tense Ibadan convention which produced a new National Working Committee and expelled several Wike allies. Despite the expulsions, Wike’s loyalists issued a notice summoning an emergency NEC and Board of Trustees meeting at Wadata Plaza, insisting the gathering was mandatory and would address what they described as critical issues. Newsmen confirmed the notice was signed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and scheduled the BoT meeting for 11am with the NEC session set for 2pm at the headquarters.

On Monday the newly elected National Chairman Tanimu Turaki petitioned the Nigeria Police Force over what he called an attempt by Anyanwu’s faction to disrupt party activities. He told reporters that he met with the FCT Commissioner of Police to ensure security ahead of what he described as the inaugural NWC meeting. Turaki insisted that Wike’s loyalists lacked legitimacy after their expulsion in Ibadan and stressed that the convention remains the highest authority of the party. He warned that any group attempting to operate from the secretariat outside the new leadership would be treated as intruders and vowed to personally lead the NWC into Wadata Plaza today.

Shortly after returning from the Force Headquarters Turaki’s NWC issued its own invitation to stakeholders for an emergency meeting at the same venue. However one of the recently expelled officers Umar Bature told Newsmen that he planned to attend Anyanwu’s meeting and dismissed the claims of his expulsion. Party elder Chief Bode George insisted the NEC and BoT meetings convened by Anyanwu were illegal and described the former national secretary as someone trying to create a parallel structure.

A member of the Makinde camp argued that Turaki could not legitimately take over the party’s operations because only sixteen states were represented at the convention. The source alleged that leaders on both sides including Wike Makinde and George engaged in anti party conduct during the 2023 general elections.

Tensions climbed further after former Kaduna State governor Senator Ahmed Makarfi resigned as Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees. In a letter dated November 17 2025 he explained that he stepped down because the new national chairman also hails from the North West and said both positions should not be occupied by persons from the same zone. Makarfi noted that he attempted to resign months earlier but stayed on until after the convention.

The party remains split by contradictory court rulings. A Federal High Court in Abuja had stopped the Ibadan convention while an Oyo State High Court approved it and directed INEC to monitor the process. Governors Ahmadu Fintiri Caleb Muftwang Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde attended the convention at the Lekan Salami Stadium where Wike Anyanwu Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed former Ekiti governor Ayodele Fayose and former South South vice chairman Dan Orbih were expelled.

As both factions head to Wadata Plaza for parallel sessions today the PDP finds itself navigating one of its most intense internal battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.