The Peoples Democratic Party is not just in crisis — it is in a full-blown political inferno, with factions hurling legal missiles, issuing counter-orders, and denouncing one another like sworn enemies trapped in the same house.
On Saturday, the faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike flatly rejected its expulsion from the party — dismissing the Ibadan convention that produced the decision as nothing more than a political illegal gathering in stadium packaging.
At the same time, four PDP state chapters openly disowned the convention itself, throwing the party into an unprecedented storm of rebellion against Governor Seyi Makinde, who spearheaded the event in Oyo State despite colliding court orders.
A Convention on Life Support — But Forced to Walk
Over 3,000 delegates poured into Ibadan on Saturday for a convention that legally should not have taken place at all.
Twenty-four hours earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja, via Justice Peter Lifu, suspended the convention and blocked INEC from monitoring it. The case? A suit by former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, who argued that the party wrongfully shut him out from contesting the National Chairmanship seat.
Justice Lifu ruled that Lamido was “unjustly denied” the nomination form, the PDP violated its own constitution, and the convention must be paused until he is given the chance to obtain the form, mobilise and campaign.
This was not even the first restraining order. Just days earlier, Justices Lifu and Omotosho had separately issued rulings halting the same convention.
But in a dramatic twist, the Oyo State High Court under Justice Ladiran Akintola approved the event and instructed INEC to attend.
Thus began the battle of court orders — Abuja said stop, Ibadan said move, and PDP leaders chose the order that suited their plans.
Wike Camp: “You Can’t Expel Us from a Convention That Never Existed”
At the Ibadan gathering, a motion by Chief Bode George was adopted to expel Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, ex–South-South Vice Chairman Dan Orbih, and others.
The Wike bloc responded with contempt.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, Acting National Chairman (Wike camp), dismissed the entire event:
“What happened in Ibadan was NOT a convention. It violated a valid court order. They had no power to expel anybody. We remain in office.”
Mohammed insisted that the Wike faction’s earlier suspension of Umar Damagum and the entire NWC stands — and vowed to continue running the party.
Former Organising Secretary Umar Bature echoed him, declaring the Ibadan process “illegal” and noting he will serve until the NWC’s tenure officially ends on December 8, 2025.
Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor was even more blunt:
“Those governors went to Ibadan to entertain themselves. Only 17 states were accredited. That is NOT a valid convention.”
He urged Makinde to apologise and return to genuine reconciliation if the PDP wants to survive 2027.
Southwest PDP Backs Makinde — Calls Him “Moses”
Contradicting the backlash, the PDP Southwest zone hailed Makinde for “rescuing the party from aggressors.” Zonal spokesman Sanya Atofarati even described the governor as the “biblical Moses” of the PDP.
The zone praised newly elected National Chairman Kabiru Turaki and other officers, insisting the convention rescued the PDP from collapse.
Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa — States Open Fire
Three states delivered heavy blows against the Ibadan convention, calling it unlawful.
Rivers State PDP
Applauded INEC for boycotting the event and described the convention as “a sham” that ignored two subsisting court orders.
Spokesman Kenneth Yowika said INEC did right by refusing to monitor an illegality.
Akwa Ibom PDP
Called the convention “ill-fated,” praised INEC’s boycott, and faulted PDP leaders for disregarding Federal High Court rulings.
Publicity Secretary Edwin Ebiese insisted the Ibadan gathering had “no legal validity.”
Jigawa PDP
Chairman Babandi Gumel announced that Jigawa sent no delegates to Ibadan, branding those who claimed representation as impostors.
The state aligned fully with the ruling affirming Lamido’s right to contest.
Founding Member Raises Alarm
Former presidential candidate and PDP founding member Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim warned that the ongoing crisis threatens Nigeria’s democratic stability.
He reminded Nigerians that the PDP’s formation in 1998 united more than 13 political groups and stabilised the transition from military rule — a tradition he fears the party has now abandoned.
He urged urgent reconciliation: “Inclusion, not exclusion, is the tradition of the PDP.”
Bode George Fires Back — Says 36 States Participated
Chief Bode George rejected claims that only 17 states were accredited:
“Every state, plus FCT, participated. We are celebrating because the PDP is back.”
He told Wike to stop pretending and join the APC openly:
“We have helped him by expelling him. What else is he waiting for?”
APC Enters the Chat — and Mocks PDP
The ruling APC took its shot, with Deputy National Organising Secretary Chidi Duru calling the PDP’s chaos the result of “persistent leadership failures.”
He joked that the APC is willing to run a “crash programme on party management” for its struggling rival — but insisted the party prefers a functional opposition to a dying one.
Asked if APC would welcome expelled PDP heavyweights, Duru dismissed the idea:
“We don’t even know who to speak with in the PDP right now.”