Fresh cracks have surfaced within the Peoples Democratic Party as leading figures in the party differ over efforts to reconcile with allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal.
Findings revealed that Seyi Makinde and members of the party’s Board of Trustees supported a peace initiative aimed at resolving the lingering leadership crisis, while the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, reportedly rejected the idea of working with Wike’s political camp.
The dispute stems from the controversy surrounding the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, where delegates elected Tanimu Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee to lead the party.
However, the convention’s outcome was later overturned after the appellate court affirmed an earlier decision of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja, which held that the processes that produced the convention violated relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution.
While hearing related matters in Ibadan, the Court of Appeal advised the feuding parties to explore an amicable settlement and subsequently adjourned proceedings indefinitely to allow room for dialogue.
Sources within the party disclosed that Makinde and other stakeholders used the opportunity of an expanded Board of Trustees meeting to propose the formation of a joint committee that would draft the terms of reconciliation between the rival camps.
According to the sources, the committee is expected to involve legal practitioners and senior party members who will design a framework for sharing positions within the National Working Committee and outline the steps required to restore stability in the party.
Despite the progress recorded at the meeting, Mohammed was said to have stayed away from the gathering and maintained reservations about any reconciliation arrangement involving the Wike group. Party leaders are, however, said to be making efforts to convince him to support the peace process.
Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees, chaired by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, confirmed that steps were being taken to mend fences among party leaders following the court’s ruling that invalidated the November convention.
Addressing journalists in Abuja after the expanded trustees’ meeting, Wabara said the board would take advantage of the opportunity provided by the appellate court to pursue reconciliation and stabilise the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that the leadership tussle and the legal battles it generated had negatively affected the unity and smooth running of the PDP, stressing the need to urgently resolve the dispute.
Responding to the reconciliation proposal, Wike said his camp remained open to dialogue but insisted that any peace move must be transparent and sincere.
The FCT minister also dismissed claims that his position in the administration of President Bola Tinubu had compromised his loyalty to the opposition party, maintaining that he was still a committed member of the PDP.
He further insisted that preparations for the party’s national convention slated for March 29 and 30 were ongoing, rejecting calls for the establishment of another caretaker committee.
