Politics
PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike Rejects Fresh Caretaker Committee, Insists on National Convention
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected calls for the formation of a new caretaker committee in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that the party should proceed with its planned national convention.
Wike made the declaration during the 86th meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and the 106th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
Speaking at the NEC meeting convened by a faction led by the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Abdulrahman Mohammed, the FCT minister said his camp was open to reconciliation but would only negotiate from a position of strength following recent court rulings affecting the party.
According to him, preparations for the PDP national convention are already underway and should not be disrupted by fresh proposals to set up another caretaker leadership.
“The party is working hard for the convention to hold. They have paid the necessary fees. They have secured the venue. So, let no one bring up another suggestion to form another caretaker committee. I won’t accept that. Convention must hold, and we will allow everybody to participate,” Wike stated.
The former Rivers State governor also dismissed claims that his role in the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu had affected his loyalty to the opposition party.
“It was as if I was the cause of the problem because I am working in an APC administration, but all the ones who accused me are today in APC, and I, whom they accused, have not left the PDP,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Mao Ohuabunwa, described the current situation as a defining moment for the party and urged members to embrace unity and restraint.
“This gathering comes at a defining moment in the life of the PDP; one that calls not for emotion or haste, but for wisdom, institutional memory and calm reflection,” Ohuabunwa said while addressing members.
He noted that the party had made progress in reorganising its internal structures following the conduct of ward and local government congresses across the country. According to him, the exercises demonstrate the party’s commitment to participatory democracy and grassroots engagement.
Ohuabunwa added that preparations were ongoing for the PDP national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, expressing optimism that the event would help reposition the party and strengthen its structures nationwide.
He also referenced a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming the legality of the caretaker leadership, saying the ruling had brought clarity and stability to the party’s leadership structure.
Earlier, Abdulrahman Mohammed had urged stakeholders to embrace reconciliation and end the persistent legal battles that have slowed the party’s activities.
The latest development underscores the continuing internal tensions within the PDP as party leaders attempt to stabilise its leadership and prepare for the forthcoming national convention.
Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has nullified the two-year tenure previously assigned to elected local government chairmen in the state, ruling that it is inconsistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Delivering the judgment, Chief Judge Justice David Mann held that the two-year tenure stipulated under Plateau State laws and regulations of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) contradicts Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The court ruled that elected local government chairmen must instead serve a four-year tenure, aligning with constitutional provisions that guarantee a democratic and stable local government system.
Justice Mann also referenced the 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, which affirmed that elected council chairmen and councillors across Nigeria should have a uniform four-year tenure.
Reacting to the judgment, Plateau State Attorney-General Philemon Daffi welcomed the decision, stating that it provides clarity and resolves lingering disputes over the tenure of local government officials in the state.
Similarly, counsel to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Plateau State, Madueke Okofor, described the ruling as a positive development that strengthens democratic governance at the grassroots level.
Fresh reconciliation efforts are underway within the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly in the Edo South Senatorial District, as party leaders and stakeholders intensify consultations aimed at restoring unity.
In a statement issued on March 14, former state Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said concerned leaders and party faithful had begun a series of engagements designed to rebuild cohesion within the PDP after recent internal disagreements.
According to the statement, the reconciliation move started with a meeting between party stakeholders and a founding leader of the PDP in Edo State, where appeals were made for leadership to guide a structured reconciliation process across the Edo South district.
Nehikhare noted that the initiative was aimed at bringing together the various factions within the party and creating a platform for open dialogue that would allow members to resolve their differences and move forward with a united voice.
He said the reconciliation drive has since gained momentum, with several follow-up meetings attracting more party leaders and members committed to rebuilding the party’s strength and internal unity.
The statement added that contacts had already been established with key figures across different tendencies within the party, opening channels of communication and encouraging constructive engagement among stakeholders.
Nehikhare also said the ongoing discussions were being conducted with respect for the directive of the Court of Appeal and with a commitment to political maturity during what he described as a critical period for the party.
While acknowledging that some members had defected to other political platforms amid recent disputes, he expressed optimism that the reconciliation process would create the environment for renewed dialogue and possibly encourage some members to return to the PDP.
He further urged party leaders in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts to adopt similar dialogue-based reconciliation efforts in order to rebuild a stronger and more united PDP across the state.
A Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting in Akure has ruled that Lucky Aiyedatiwa cannot contest the 2028 governorship election in Ondo State. The judgment delivered on Thursday addressed the eligibility of the governor to seek another term after completing the tenure of the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
The case was filed by an All Progressives Congress chieftain, Akin Egbuwalo, who asked the court to interpret Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria regarding the governor’s qualification for another term. Defendants in the suit included the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney General of Ondo State, the Attorney General of the Federation, Aiyedatiwa, his deputy Olayide Adelami and the All Progressives Congress.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Toyin Adegoke held that Aiyedatiwa would not be eligible to contest another governorship election in 2028. The court noted that the governor was first sworn in on December 27, 2023 to complete the tenure of Akeredolu following his death. Aiyedatiwa was later inaugurated again on February 24, 2025 after winning the November 16, 2024 governorship election in the state.
According to the court, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria does not permit a president, vice president, governor or deputy governor to remain in office beyond eight years. Justice Adegoke relied on the precedent established by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of Marwa v. Nyako.
The judge ruled that the suit was neither speculative nor academic, noting that the court had the authority to interpret constitutional provisions whenever necessary. She also observed that some defendants failed to participate during the hearing of the matter, leading the court to treat their legal processes as abandoned. Consequently, only the submissions of the plaintiff and the first two defendants were considered in the final judgment.
The court concluded that allowing the governor to contest again would contradict the position of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that no governor can remain in office beyond eight years. Justice Adegoke therefore held that the plaintiff’s case had merit and granted all the reliefs sought.
Earlier in the proceedings, the Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Abuja dismissed an appeal filed by Aiyedatiwa challenging a ruling of the Akure Federal High Court. In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, the appellate court held that the trial court acted properly when it allowed the plaintiff to amend his originating summons. The panel ruled that the governor failed to prove that the amendment caused any miscarriage of justice or violated his right to fair hearing.
Aiyedatiwa first assumed office in December 2023 after the death of Akeredolu. He later won the 2024 governorship election and was sworn in again in February 2025. Before the latest judgment, the governor had maintained that only the Supreme Court of Nigeria could stop him from contesting again in 2028. Legal observers say the governor may still challenge the ruling at the apex court.