Why Ibadan PDP convention will end in futility — Wike/Anyanwu faction

...says case may be resolved by Supreme Court

The Wike/Anyanwu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the elective national convention convened by the Umar Damagum–led leadership, insisting that the processes leading up to the exercise violated the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, its internal guidelines, and the 1999 Constitution.

George Turna, PDP South-South zonal secretary; Amah Abraham, Abia State chairman; and Austin Nwachukwu, Imo State chairman, made the position known on Friday in Abuja at a joint media briefing.

Turna said the Damagum camp ignored valid judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja and proceeded to exclude certain members from contesting for party offices, an action he described as “undemocratic.”

The group said it had earlier approached the Federal High Court to challenge the conduct of state congresses that should have produced the bulk of delegates for the national convention.

“By our procedures, state congresses ought to have been concluded in almost all the states, or at least a substantial number, to form the delegate base for the national convention.

“We expected guidelines; none were issued. We anticipated a timetable; there was none. We sought clarity on procedures, including the purchase of forms; no information was provided.

“Out of these frustrations, we approached the court. It is now public knowledge that we secured judgment in our favour delivered by Justice James of the Federal High Court on October 31, 2025,” the group said.

They accused the party of pushing “false narratives” suggesting that they acted as proxies to stop the convention or undermine the PDP’s progress.

According to them, after the judgment, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) set up a fact-finding committee that investigated the crisis and submitted a report.

Speaking on the findings, the officials said the committee recommended the constitution of a caretaker committee to address all grievances raised by stakeholders. They alleged, however, that the Damagum-led leadership ignored both the report and its recommendations.

Citing the committee’s report, they said Damagum himself admitted that the National Organising Secretary was “running a one-man show” and pursuing a hidden agenda that compromised state congresses.

“This confirms our position that congresses were not properly conducted in at least 14 states. How can a national convention proceed while disenfranchising delegates from 14 states, including the South-East?” they asked.

The BoT committee also advised that any convention be contingent on the party’s legal standing and INEC’s readiness to monitor it. With multiple court orders in play, the group said INEC was unlikely to supervise the convention.

The committee further recommended an all-inclusive caretaker committee, warning that a flawed convention could paralyse the party. It also urged all National Working Committee (NWC) members to revert to status quo, lift suspensions, and pursue genuine reconciliation. The report emphasised the restoration of the BoT to its proper role and the need to uphold internal party discipline.

“All members of the committee signed the report,” the group noted.

They criticised the Damagum camp for discarding a report produced by a high-level BoT committee and attempting to push ahead with the convention despite clear legal red flags. “This report vindicates us. Both the court and the BoT have affirmed the legitimacy of our concerns,” they said.

The officials insisted that Nigerians deserve to know “who is on the side of the law and who is on the side of impunity.”

They reiterated calls for the party leadership to respect the Federal High Court judgments, implement the BoT recommendations, uphold the rule of law, and return the PDP to constitutional order before convening any credible convention.

On the Omotosho judgment, they argued that the matter is already before the Court of Appeal and that all parties are required to maintain status quo. “You cannot proceed with a convention,” they said.

They added that Justice Lifu’s judgment on unlawful exclusion further strengthened their argument. “No PDP convention can hold tomorrow or any other day because the acting national chairman and national secretary, the only officers empowered to issue notices, have officially stated that no convention will hold anywhere in Nigeria. That is the lawful position.”

They stated that they remain committed to the BoT committee’s recommendations and will pursue the matter at the appellate court, and, if necessary, up to the Supreme Court.

“Eventually, the rule of law will prevail,” they said.