ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, is facing an existential crisis following a Court of Appeal ruling that nullified its national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025. The decision has left the party with only two sitting governors—Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State—and a leadership structure in turmoil, forcing key players to confront tough political choices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The appellate court’s judgment effectively dissolved the leadership structure that emerged from the Ibadan convention, which was aligned with former minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki. For now, the only national leadership recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the caretaker committee headed by Abdulrahaman Mohammed as chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as secretary, widely seen as politically aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The Last Two Governors Standing
Not long ago, the PDP dominated Nigeria’s political landscape, governing the country for sixteen years and controlling more than a dozen states. Today, only two governors remain under its banner. Both Makinde and Bala Mohammed are serving their final terms and desire influence over who succeeds them in 2027. But the crisis at the national level now threatens those plans.
Under Nigeria’s electoral system, parties submit candidate nominations through their recognised national leadership to INEC. If that leadership structure remains contested, those nominations can also be challenged. For governors trying to shape succession politics, that uncertainty carries real risks.
A senior party official involved in recent consultations said the two governors are watching events closely. “Both of them understand that the national structure determines who signs the candidate lists. Without influence at that level, their leverage going into 2027 becomes very limited.
The Supreme Court Option
One possible path is to continue the legal fight. Supporters of the Turaki faction are considering an appeal to the Supreme Court. But that route could take months, while the electoral calendar keeps moving .
Former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki warned that waiting for the final ruling could complicate the party’s preparations. “My own position is that the Court of Appeal has ruled. However, with the revised timetable by INEC, it is obvious that there is no time to wait for the Supreme Court decision. Otherwise, we would not meet the deadlines for completing the process of nominating candidates,” he said .
Wike Camp Dictates Reconciliation Terms
The Wike-backed caretaker committee has moved aggressively to consolidate control, announcing plans for state congresses, a national convention scheduled for March 28 and 29, and a presidential primary slated for May 23 .
Wike himself has outlined what he described as prerequisites for any reconciliation: transparency, sincerity, acceptance of the caretaker committee’s authority, and respect for already scheduled party processes. Speaking after meeting Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro and House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda in Abuja, the FCT minister insisted the PDP crisis was part of a natural political process .
“PDP will never die. There comes a time when you have crises, but those crises are for you to put yourself in order,” Wike said .
However, he warned the Turaki faction against what he described as covert manoeuvres during peace talks. “Minority leader, when you are talking about reconciliation, come with your terms of reconciliation so that we will know. Concrete proposals, not like the last time you came to me and before I knew it, you were in Ibadan for the convention. I don’t like those who go to negotiate at night and come out to shout in the day. Let those coming for peace come in the daytime and not at night,” Wike fired back .
Irreducible Minimums: No Endorsement of Tinubu
Despite reconciliation talks, the Turaki-led faction has insisted on one non-negotiable condition: the party must remain an opposition and field its own presidential candidate in 2027, not endorse President Bola Tinubu .
The National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, Comrade Ini Ememobong, speaking on Arise TV, stressed that the Board of Trustees had decided to toe the path of peace to save the party, but maintained: “The principle that will guide that discussion is the principle of the fact that you cannot bring a minority opinion and impose on the majority. The majority of the members of this party understand the fact that we’re an opposition. We’re not an appendage of another party” .
Ememobong assured that the party will field candidates at all levels, including a presidential candidate. “We’ll provide a viable candidate. There are things you preempt and you place those things on the table. We’re going with an open mind for reconciliation. But that reconciliation must keep us as an opposition party,” he said .
Internal Rift Between Makinde and Bala Mohammed
Complicating matters further, the two remaining PDP governors are reportedly at odds over the way forward. According to sources who spoke to Saturday Telegraph, during an expanded Board of Trustees meeting of the Turaki faction, Makinde and Bala Mohammed expressed different views on whether to reconcile with Wike’s camp .
While Makinde expressed desire for the Turaki faction to continue with the legal battle and “go the whole hog,” Mohammed counselled that in the spirit of a new beginning, it would be better to reconcile with the other faction and reshape the PDP .
“It was a heated debate during the meeting as senior members of the party were stunned beyond words when the two governors decided to confront one another. The exchange was so hot,” the source disclosed .
Those in the know stated that the differences were necessitated by the presidential ambitions of the two gladiators. Makinde is believed to be eyeing the presidency in 2027, while Bala Mohammed is reportedly angling for 2031, hoping the schism would have subsided by then and power would have reverted to the North .
Since the meeting, sources say the Makinde-led caucus has been quietly shopping for a new platform to ventilate their aspirations, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerging as a top contender .
The ADC Option
The ADC has actively positioned itself as a landing spot for disgruntled PDP members. A chieftain of the ADC, Comrade Usman Austin Okai, has publicly urged Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and the Turaki faction to dump the PDP for the ADC, warning that staying in the party under current circumstances is a “political gamble” .
“The Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the injunction against the Ibadan convention indicates the likely direction of the Supreme Court. There is a strong possibility that party primaries will be concluded before the Supreme Court makes a final determination. If the convention is eventually nullified, every candidate produced under that structure could automatically lose legitimacy,” Okai warned .
PUNCH reported in January that factions within the PDP were already seeking alliances with the ADC, with a member of the Turaki-led NWC admitting that negotiations were ongoing to protect the interests of aspirants who might otherwise be stranded .
What Analysts Are Saying
Political observers note that the PDP’s crisis could have broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy. Election lawyer Nnamdi Ezeobi warned that disputes over party leadership often create serious complications, as candidates are submitted through a party’s recognised national leadership. If that structure is contested through court rulings, it can expose nominations to legal challenges later .
Gbenga Giwa, commenting on the shrinking number of PDP governors, said the party’s constant legal battles make it unattractive to politicians seeking stability. “The unending litigations in PDP do not augur well for any serious politicians seeking reelection. That’s why it’s only Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), who cannot seek reelection, that remain as governors in PDP” .
As the sun sets on the PDP’s once-dominant structure, the words of a simple phone repairer in Mpape, Abuja, captured the moment: “If they leave, then the story of that party is finished” .
The coming weeks will determine whether Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Turaki, and others can find common ground—or whether the PDP will enter the 2027 elections as a party without a single sitting governor and a fractured leadership beyond repair.
—
Disclaimer: This material and other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of CDA News Nigeria. All rights reserved. © 2026 CDA News Nigeria. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Privacy Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to protecting your privacy. We collect and use personal information solely for delivering news updates and improving your experience. Your data is never shared with third parties without explicit consent. For full details, visit our website.
Contact: For news tips, inquiries, or feedback, contact CDA News Nigeria at info@cdanews.ng or visit our headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
