The Digest:
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has scheduled its national convention for March 28-29, 2026, where new party leaders will be elected. The faction, chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed, announced the dates after a National Executive Committee meeting at Wike's Abuja residence. The group affirmed that all its actions comply with the party's constitution, electoral laws, and recent court judgments that recognized its caretaker committee as the party's legitimate leadership. Wike addressed the meeting, urging members to rebuild from the grassroots and asserting that the PDP remains a "formidable political force" despite internal divisions.
Key Points:
- Setting a convention date formalizes the split within the PDP, creating a parallel structure that could deepen the crisis and complicate reconciliation.
- The move capitalizes on recent favorable court rulings to establish legitimacy and momentum ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
- It tests the authority and influence of the opposing faction led by Kabiru Turaki, potentially leading to a protracted legal and political struggle for control.
- For party members, the division creates uncertainty and could weaken the PDP's cohesion and effectiveness as the main opposition party.
- The crisis highlights the persistent role of litigation and court judgments in determining leadership and internal processes within Nigerian political parties.
The scheduled convention marks a critical juncture, likely determining whether the PDP can reunite or will formally fracture into two
