Delegates arrive Abuja for Wike-led PDP Convention

The 2026 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got underway on Sunday night, as about 2,500 delegates arrived from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the event.

The convention, hosted by the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) backed by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, was held amid an unresolved leadership dispute between factions of the party, including the camp led by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

The Makinde group, which has a National Working Committee (NWC) chaired by a former Minister of Special Duties, Dr Tanimu Turaki, has filed an appeal currently pending before the Supreme Court.

The appeal challenges an earlier judgment of the Abuja Court of Appeal, which affirmed the nullification of the November 15, 2025 national convention of the party held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Ibadan convention had effectively dissolved the Turaki-led NWC, but an Abuja Federal High Court quashed the convention, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Reconciliation efforts by the two camps, aimed at preventing the PDP from being excluded from the 2027 polls, did not gain traction, as both sides failed to agree on the sharing of key national offices.

The Wike-backed NCWC, chaired by Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, is said to be keen on retaining the offices of national chairman, national secretary, and national organising secretary, a stance that has led the camp to push for a convention where the officers would be returned unopposed.

While Mohammed is expected to retain his seat as national chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Honourable Umar Nature are also expected to remain as national secretary and national organising secretary, respectively.

As the convention ceremonies opened on Sunday night, Wike arrived early and was received by cheering delegates, as the former governor of Rivers State danced around the arena to greet them.

However, neither Makinde nor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the two remaining PDP governors, was sighted at the venue.

Similarly, none of the members of the Turaki-led NWC was present.

The Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, were present.

Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, was expected as of 7:45 p.m.