Reconciliation: Wike, PDP Governors’ Camps to Hold Talks Monday
Members of the reconciliation committee representing the camps of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors of the Peoples Democratic Party are expected to meet on Monday as the joint panel works to harmonise conditions for resolving the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
A senior PDP leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, disclosed this to Sunday PUNCH.
Officials from the governors’ camp, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, also confirmed that the reconciliation panel would convene to address the issues.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, Samuel Anyanwu, expressed optimism in an interview with Sunday PUNCH that the party would soon overcome its internal challenges.
PDP governors had earlier endorsed the Ibadan convention held on November 15, which produced Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure. They also oversaw the transition of leadership from former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure expired on December 9.
However, a faction loyal to Wike constituted a 13-member Caretaker Committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, among others, with a 60-day mandate.
Tensions escalated when both factions attempted to hold separate meetings at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, resulting in chaos and physical clashes. Following the incident, the Nigeria Police Force sealed the secretariat, which has remained closed since then.
Both factions subsequently approached the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking recognition, but the commission declined to recognise either group. This development triggered a series of legal battles as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensified.
On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard consolidated suits relating to the PDP leadership crisis and delivered its judgment on March 9. In a ruling delivered by a panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the appellate court affirmed an earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja which held that the processes that produced the November 15–16 Ibadan National Convention violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP Constitution. Consequently, the court nullified the outcome of the convention, declaring the election of Turaki and other members of the NWC invalid.
Another panel of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, later granted all parties involved in the dispute permission to pursue an out-of-court settlement, and the case was adjourned indefinitely after both sides agreed to proceed with reconciliation efforts.
Following the ruling, the governors’ camp, the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees and the Wike-aligned Caretaker Committee signalled their readiness for genuine reconciliation. A source also revealed that the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who had earlier opposed reconciliation, is now open to the process.
According to the source, representatives and legal advisers from both camps held their first meeting on Friday to identify key issues for reconciliation. Members reportedly agreed to return to their respective camps to harmonise their positions and present realistic and workable conditions.
Each side nominated about six representatives, including legal practitioners, to the reconciliation committee. Another source said no final decision had been reached on whether the crisis would be resolved through a national convention or the establishment of an interim caretaker committee.
Both camps are expected to meet again on Monday to review the conditions submitted by their representatives and attempt to reach common ground aimed at resolving the crisis as quickly as possible.
A member of the Board of Trustees aligned with the Turaki faction, Fasiu Bakene, confirmed the development, saying the recent court ruling had effectively left the party without a clear national leadership structure.
According to him, the Court of Appeal judgment did not recognise the leadership claims of either faction, as it upheld the suspension of some members of the Wike camp while also invalidating the Ibadan convention that produced the National Working Committee.
He explained that the Board of Trustees decided to encourage reconciliation after learning that lawyers representing both factions had informed the court that efforts were underway to reach an out-of-court settlement.
Bakene added that the reconciliation committee would comprise representatives from both factions to ensure fairness in the process and stressed that the survival of the party should remain the overriding concern for all stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ememobong, also confirmed that reconciliation efforts were ongoing, noting that both camps were mindful of the urgency of resolving the crisis.
He cautioned that any provocative actions could undermine the peace process and expressed optimism that the reconciliation exercise would yield positive results and enable the party to field candidates in the 2027 election.
Earlier on Saturday, Ememobong issued a statement warning that the alleged dissolution of state executive committees in Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states by Wike’s faction could hinder the reconciliation process, describing the move as illegal and urging party members to disregard it.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Anyanwu insisted that the planned national convention would still hold on March 29 and 30. He stated that the Turaki group could no longer be regarded as a faction and maintained that the party would soon elect a new National Working Committee.
He, however, acknowledged ongoing reconciliation efforts initiated by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, noting that there was no permanent friendship or enmity in politics.
Similarly, the Chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Sunday Bisi, said the Wike camp remained open to reconciliation but insisted that preparations for the national convention were already underway in several states.
Meanwhile, the North Central Zonal Legal Adviser of the PDP, Abubakar Issa, criticised attempts by some party leaders to reconcile with Wike’s camp, describing Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu during the last general election as a betrayal of the party.
Issa argued that it was difficult to justify negotiations with a party member who openly supported the presidential candidate of a rival party, warning that reconciliation without addressing such issues could undermine the party’s discipline and credibility.
Source: PUNCH