This is just as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) moved resolve the party’s leadership crisis by setting up a six-member reconciliation committee. The trustees, however, declared that Wike and his cohorts lacked the capacity to stop the planned convention.
BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, while reading a communique at the end of an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, noted that the trustees as an advisory body of the party would not take sides in the ongoing crisis rocking the party.
wabara
The BoT mandated the committee to submit its report by Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for further action.
While reaffirming its support for the Ambassador Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), the Wabara commended the NWC, PDP Governors’ Forum, and other organs of the party for their efforts in stabilising the PDP despite recent internal tensions.
Meanwhile, the acting national chairman loyal to Wike, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammed, in collaboration with our national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, declared that the party would abide by judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Omotosho in Suit No. FHCIABJ/CS/2120/2025.
Muhammed while addressing journalists in Abuja, said “We are pleased to confirm that our esteemed National Legal Adviser, Ajibade K.A. (SAN), has provided a thorough legal opinion on the implications of the judgment. In strict adherence to due process and our commitment to fairness, we have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal to seek further judicial clarification and interpretation in the overall interest of our party, our members, and Nigerian democracy.”
According to the him, the party, having lodged an appeal and in line with its responsibility to uphold the rule of law, has suspended the planned convention pending the decision of the Court of Appeal.
“The PDP hereby suspends and cancels the proposed Ibadan National Convention pending the decision of the Court of Appeal. Any continuation with the proposed convention at this time would amount to a violation of the rule of law and shall not be condoned,” he added.
Muhammed further explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was a party to the suit and is fully aware of the judgement of the Federal High court.
“Nevertheless, we have dimmed it necessary and responsible to formally communicate our position to the commission. Accordingly, we have notified INEC to suspend the National Convention in strict compliance with the directive contained in the judgement,” Muhammed stated.
While responding to the ex-parte order recently issued by a High Court in Oyo State, mandating the party to proceed with the convention, Muhammed said, “While we await the certified true copy of the said order, we reiterate that an ex-parte order cannot override a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court. We shall continue to act only in accordance with valid judicial authority and the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The reconciliation committee set-up by the party’s BoT is expected to submit its report next Tuesday. The committee chaired by Ambassador Hassan Adamu (North East) , while chief-of-staff to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe (South-south) serves as the secretary. Other members are former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (South West); Chief Ugochukwu Okeke (South East); Sen. Zaynab Kure (North Central) and Dr. Lubna Mohammed Gusau (North West).
The NWC led by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and three others last week for alleged anti-party activities.
Anyanwu, in turn, led another four members of the NWC to suspend Damagum and five national officers, accusing Damagum in particular of “incompetence.”
