By Sarah NEGEDU
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fixed March 28 and 29, 2026, for its national convention in Abuja.
The decision was taken at the 105th meeting of the PDP National Executive Committee, NEC, held at the official residence of the FCT Minister in Abuja, on Monday.
A communique jointly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party, Hon. Abdulrahman Muhammed and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, respectively, explained that the move was aimed at consolidating the party’s structures ahead of overdue internal processes.
It said, “NEC further approved and confirmed MARCH 28th and 29th, 2026, as the date for the PDP National Convention, to be held at ABUJA, for the purpose of electing members of the National Working Committee and other statutory organs of the Party.”
The NEC also reaffirmed the legitimacy, authority, and mandate of the Abdulrahman Muhammed-led National Caretaker Committee, with Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Secretary, describing it as “the only lawful national administrative organ of the Party, fully empowered to act as the National Working Committee pending the conduct of the National Convention.”
The planned convention comes on the heals of the controversial convention held in Ibadan by a rival faction of the PDP, which was later nullified by a Federal High Court.
The Abdulrahman Muhammed-led faction however maintained that it is prepared to organise a nationally acceptable convention and therefore directed the Caretaker Committee to, “Immediately activate Convention Sub-Committees and commence full logistical, all administrative, and consultative preparations to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and credible Convention.”
The NEC therefore approved a timetable for party congresses nationwide, leading up to the national convention with ward and local government congresses scheduled for February, while state congresses will take place in March.
The communique also reaffirmed the content, validity, force, and effect of all resolutions reached at the Emergency 104th NEC Meeting held on December 7, 2025, noting that “all actions taken pursuant to the 104th NEC resolutions remain binding, lawful, and operative, having been taken in strict compliance with the PDP Constitution (as amended), the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), the Electoral Act, and relevant judicial pronouncements.”
On compliance with judicial directives, NEC emphasized its absolute belief in the independence of the judiciary and welcomed the Federal High Court judgment in Ibadan, which upheld the legality of the party’s leadership and administrative arrangements.
The communique assured that, “All Party organs, members, and stakeholders shall continue to act strictly in obedience to subsisting court judgments and judicial directives, and INEC and all relevant institutions are urged to fully comply with the said judgment in the interest of democracy and constitutional order.”
The communique further affirmed the extension of the tenure of the National Caretaker Working Committee and other affected state and zonal caretaker committees pending the conduct of the convention, state, and zonal congresses.
On party unity, NEC called on all members to, “Remain united, disciplined, and loyal to the PDP, eschew actions capable of undermining Party cohesion, and place the collective interest of the Party above personal considerations.”
It added that the resolutions of the 105th NEC meeting “will strengthen internal democracy, restore stability, and reposition the Party for future electoral success,” urging stakeholders, supporters, and members across the country and in the diaspora to remain steadfast, law-abiding, and committed to the ideals of the Party.
