By Sarah NEGEDU
The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened on Friday following the inauguration of a new Board of Trustees, BoT, members by a faction of the party.
The ceremony, held at the official residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, attracted top party figures including Senator Philip Aduda, former governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Samuel Ortom, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and PDP founding father, Jim Nwobodo, among others.
At the event, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa was inaugurated as Chairman of the reconstituted BoT, with Hon. Isah Dansidi as Secretary. The new board replaces the one led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, which the faction accused of losing moral credibility and failing in its advisory role.
In his address, the factional Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammad, said the inauguration marked “a significant turning point in the life of our great party.”
According to him, the decision to reconstitute the BoT followed the “loss of moral balance” by the previous leadership, which had become divided, compromised, and ineffective in its role as the conscience of the PDP.
In his words, “The previous Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, sadly lost the moral balance expected of that noble institution. His suspension by the Abia State Chapter of our party over anti-party activities was a difficult but necessary step,” Muhammad said.
“For too long, we have watched individuals entrusted with the highest moral responsibility of our party become entangled in factional disputes, personal ambition, and open disobedience to judicial orders. Instead of standing as custodians of our founding vision, they chose to side with division and impunity. The PDP must no longer be a refuge for those who undermine its laws.”
“Let me be clear: this is not a fight against individuals, but a rescue mission. When a political party begins to disregard its own constitution and the sanctity of its courts, it loses the very soul that binds it together. The Federal High Court judgment that brought us here is not a setback. It is a wake-up call to restore order, rebuild discipline, and reawaken the values that once made PDP the pride of Africa.”
He accused the suspended National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, of disregarding the rule of law and protecting individuals who violated party rules, warning that such tendencies would no longer be tolerated.
“Instead of enforcing valid judicial pronouncements and respecting the authority of the courts, that administration preferred to protect individuals who had clearly violated the rules of the party. Going forward, impunity will no longer have a place in the PDP. We must submit ourselves to the supremacy of our constitution and the collective will of our members,” Muhammad added.
Former governor of old Enugu State and PDP founding father, Jim Nwobodo, in his remarks, urged the new leadership to embrace reconciliation and ensure the party remains the “beacon of democracy in Nigeria.”
“As one of the founding fathers of the party, I know that the PDP is a family where every member has a sense of belonging. My appeal, therefore, is to ensure that the PDP remains the beacon of democracy in Nigeria. Husband and wife may quarrel, but we must reunite because this house belongs to all of us,” he said.
Comparing the PDP to South Africa’s African National Congress, ANC, he charged the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and others to reachout to aggrieved members of the party in the interest of the party.
“PDP is like the ANC of South Africa. Do all you can to bring about peace in our party. Reach out to aggrieved members who are willing to abide by the party’s constitution and ideology. PDP is the mother party; it formed the foundation of democracy in this Fourth Republic, and it must not be allowed to collapse.
“Honourable Minister Wike, they need your help. We know what you can do when you are determined to work. If you put that same effort into this party, PDP will again be the party to beat. When you make peace, it is not weakness. It is wisdom.”
In his remarks, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa vowed to recover the PDP and restore its image as the conscience of Nigeria’s democracy. He said the new board would act in line with the constitution and manifesto of the party, while heeding Nwobodo’s call for reconciliation.
“The BoT is the conscience of the party, and we will act accordingly to guide our leaders with fairness, justice, and integrity. We are not here to serve any interest group, but to serve the PDP and all its members across the country,” Ohuabunwa said.
“We have listened to our elders, and we take their words to heart. The advice of Chief Jim Nwobodo is timely, and we shall pursue reconciliation with sincerity. But reconciliation must be anchored on truth, discipline, and respect for our constitution.”
Reading the communiqué on behalf of the BoT, Ohuabunwa said the new board reaffirmed its commitment to justice, equity, and internal democracy, while calling for total compliance with the October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court.
“The BoT emphasizes that no process or organ of the party should act in contempt of court or outside constitutional provisions, as such actions would render subsequent outcomes null and void. The rule of law is the foundation upon which our party was built, and that foundation must never again be compromised,” the communiqué stated.
“In view of this, the Board directs that the planned national convention be suspended until the Court of Appeal gives its ruling on the pending case. The PDP must not allow itself to fall into the trap of illegality or moral confusion. We urge all members to exercise restraint and wait for the courts to complete their process.”
“The BoT further announces the formal removal of Senator Adolphus Wabara and Senator Ahmed Makarfi as Chairman and Secretary respectively, citing their loss of neutrality and moral authority. In their place, the Board unanimously approved the election of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi to steer this new beginning.”
The board pledged to serve as the stabilizing moral compass of the PDP and called on all stakeholders to close ranks and rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The BoT pledges to continuously uphold its sacred responsibility as the conscience of the PDP; speaking truth with fairness, guiding with integrity, and ensuring that our great party remains a beacon of democracy and hope for the nation,” the statement concluded.
