Members of a reconciliation committee drawn from the camps of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are expected to meet on Monday in a renewed effort to resolve the lingering leadership crisis in the party.
A senior member of the PDP, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the issue, disclosed that the committee would review conditions submitted by both factions with the aim of finding common ground.
The planned meeting follows earlier consultations between representatives of the rival camps, including members of the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki and party officials aligned with Wike.
The crisis within the PDP intensified after the governors backed the Ibadan national convention held on November 15, which produced Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year term.
The governors also oversaw the handover of leadership from former Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki shortly before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9.
However, a faction loyal to Wike established a 13-member National Caretaker Committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, among others, with a 60-day mandate.
Tension escalated on November 18, 2025, when both factions attempted to hold separate meetings at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, resulting in chaos and physical confrontations.
Following the incident, the Nigeria Police sealed the secretariat, which has remained closed since then, while both factions approached the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking recognition, a request the commission declined.
The dispute later moved to the courts, with the Court of Appeal delivering judgment on March 9 after hearing consolidated suits related to the party’s leadership tussle.
In its ruling, a panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja which held that the processes leading to the November 15–16 Ibadan convention violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution.
The appellate court consequently nullified the convention and the emergence of Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee.
Meanwhile, another panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, granted the parties permission to pursue an out-of-court settlement and adjourned the case indefinitely after both sides agreed to explore reconciliation.
A party source said the reconciliation committee, made up of representatives and legal advisers from both factions, had already held an initial meeting on Friday to identify issues for negotiation.
“They had their first meeting on Friday. The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who had earlier rejected the idea of reconciliation with the Wike group, is now open to the process and has been engaging stakeholders from both camps,” the source said.
The source added, “Both camps nominated about six members each into the reconciliation committee, including lawyers. During the meeting, they agreed that representatives should return to their respective camps to consult and present realistic conditions for reconciliation.”
Another party insider said the committee had yet to decide whether the crisis would be resolved through a fresh national convention or the establishment of an interim caretaker leadership.
He said, “Both camps are expected to reconvene on Monday to review the conditions submitted by their representatives and attempt to harmonise them. That meeting should provide clearer direction on how the crisis will be resolved.”
A member of the party’s Board of Trustees aligned with the Turaki group, Fasiu Bakene, confirmed the reconciliation move, saying it became necessary following the court rulings which left the PDP without a clear national leadership structure.
Bakene said, “The Court of Appeal judgment did not recognise the leadership claim of either faction. While it upheld the suspension of some members on the Wike side, including the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, it also nullified the Ibadan convention which produced the National Working Committee.”
“So, if the convention has been invalidated, it means there is no NWC and no caretaker committee. The only existing structure now is the Board of Trustees,” he added.
According to him, the BoT decided to support reconciliation after being informed that lawyers representing both factions had indicated before the Court of Appeal that discussions were ongoing to settle the matter out of court.
“We want reconciliation in the interest of the party and the many members preparing for elective offices ahead of the 2027 elections,” Bakene said.
Speaking separately, Anyanwu expressed optimism that the PDP would soon overcome its internal divisions, insisting that preparations for the party’s national convention were already underway.
“We have come to the conclusion that the so-called Turaki faction is no longer a faction. There is only one PDP under the leadership of the National Caretaker Committee,” he said.
He added, “Preparations for the convention are ongoing. The convention will take place on April 29 and 30, and by April 2 we expect to have a new National Working Committee.”
Anyanwu also acknowledged ongoing reconciliation efforts initiated by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
“Governor Makinde has reached out for reconciliation, but what we want is sincere and honest reconciliation. In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies; it is about interest,” he said.
Also speaking, the Osun State PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, said Wike’s camp remained open to reconciliation but insisted that the party’s planned convention would go ahead as scheduled.
He said, “Wike made it clear that reconciliation should not disrupt the planned convention. The date of the convention is sacrosanct and cannot be altered.”
Bisi added that congresses ahead of the convention were already ongoing in several states.
“As of today, congresses are taking place in nearly 15 states, including Oyo. So there is no basis for halting the process,” he said.
However, the North Central Zonal Legal Adviser of the PDP, Abubakar Issa, criticised attempts by some party leaders to reconcile with Wike’s camp, describing the minister’s support for President Bola Tinubu as a betrayal of the party.
Issa questioned the rationale behind negotiations with a member who openly backed the presidential candidate of a rival party during the last general election.
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