Tension is mounting in the factional camps of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party as more than 3,000 delegates prepare to converge on the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State for the party’s national elective convention.
The event, billed for November 15 and 16, 2025, has been a subject of controversy among the two warring camps in the party.
On one hand is the National Working Committee led by the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, which enjoys the support of the PDP Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees, and the Forum of State Chairmen, among others.
Though outnumbered by the Damagum-led camp, the faction led by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is wielding tremendous influence, having elected its own chairman, daring the governors to their faces.
Penultimate Friday, Justice James Omotosho delivered a ruling restraining the leadership of the party from going ahead with the planned convention. It also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from monitoring it, arguing that the PDP failed to comply with its own rules, which require certain designated officers to notify INEC of the convention.
Following the ruling, the Damagum-led NWC suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature for a period of one month for alleged anti-party activities.
Twenty-four hours later, Anyanwu and his camp met in Abuja and announced the suspension of Damagum and the entire NWC.
The faction also named the PDP Deputy National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, as the party’s new acting National Chairman.
As the two camps square up against each other, the Damagum-led faction secured an ex parte order granted by Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court last week, directing the PDP to proceed with the convention.
Thus, while Damagum, backed by the governors, BoT members, and state chairmen, are preparing for the convention, Wike, Anyanwu and others insist the convention would not hold.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, an official at the PDP secretariat with knowledge of the crisis, said more than 3,000 delegates would gather in Ibadan to elect new leaders for the party.
He said, “More than 3,000 delegates are participating, and don’t forget that there are super delegates and elected delegates.
“Super delegates are former this and former that, and the PDP has many of them in every state of the federation.
“When you hear people whose only interest is to destroy the party saying that congresses were not conducted in some states and so those states are disenfranchised, it’s all lies because we still have many former members of this and that in those states.”
The source, who is aligned with the Damagum-led group, said the convention would hold because Justice Akintola’s order is the most current of the two conflicting court rulings.
