PDP In Turmoil As Wike-Backed Caretaker Committee Dissolves 14 State Executives

The crisis engulfing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Thursday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, dissolved the executives of 14 state chapters and announced plans to hold fresh congresses in January 2026.

The committee reaffirmed that the leadership of Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, serving as Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary respectively, remains the only legitimate national structure recognized by the party.

This stance was outlined in a communiqué issued following the committee’s Thursday evening meeting in Abuja, read by Acting Publicity Secretary Haruna Jungun.

The move comes amid ongoing disputes over the November 16 Ibadan national convention, which was endorsed by PDP governors. At that convention, Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and other members of the National Working Committee were elected for four-year terms.

However, Wike and his allies, Abdulrahman and Anyanwu, have maintained that they continue to serve as Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary. Despite the governors facilitating what party sources described as a smooth handover from former chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki ahead of the official end of Damagum’s tenure on December 9, the Wike-aligned faction went ahead on December 8 to appoint Abdulrahman, Anyanwu, and others to a 60-day caretaker committee.

The caretaker committee has been mandated to conduct all outstanding congresses and convene a national convention within the 60-day period. While Turaki continues to meet with some party leaders, the Abdulrahman/Anyanwu-led committee has been carrying out parallel activities, underscoring the party’s deepening divisions.

States Affected
Jungun revealed that the dissolved state executives include Borno, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta, Taraba, Kano, and Lagos states.

Reading from the communiqué, Jungun stated:
“To assure our members and the public, the PDP remains strong and indivisible. There is only one genuine and legitimate PDP, led by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed.”

The caretaker committee warned members against actions that could tarnish the party’s image:
“Anyone putting the image of the party into disrepute must desist immediately,” the communiqué read.

It also dismissed claims that the Turaki-led National Working Committee had been recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Jungun challenged Turaki to produce the code used to upload his executive committee to the INEC portal, calling media reports on the matter false.

The committee confirmed the dissolution of the affected state working committees while ratifying caretaker committees for those states. It also assigned portfolios to members for effective party administration, including Professor Adenike Ogunse as Women Leader; Engineer Deji Dohati as Deputy National Secretary; Senator Olaka Ogunwu as Treasurer and Publicity; and Ambassador Dr. Ibrahim Bala-Aboki as Youth Leader.

“Finally, the committee has approved the calendar for state congresses starting January 9, 2026, followed by the national convention,” the communiqué added.

Earlier, Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman defended the legitimacy of the caretaker committee, emphasizing that it operates strictly in line with the PDP constitution. He stated:
“We have only one PDP under my leadership and the caretaker committee. The party operates in accordance with both its constitution and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This body is aligned with the law and the party’s constitution. There is only one PDP under my leadership.”