The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party deepened over the weekend as a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, installed parallel party executives in several states, including Oyo, Ekiti and Bayelsa, in a move widely seen as a challenge to the camp of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The development followed a ruling by the Court of Appeal which nullified the November 15 and 16 convention held in Ibadan that produced Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as national chairman of the party.
As part of preparations for its proposed national convention scheduled for March 28 in Abuja, the Wike-backed faction of the party’s caretaker committee had earlier conducted ward and zonal congresses before proceeding with state congresses across several states at the weekend.
The emergence of new state executives in the affected states is expected to shape the balance of power ahead of the planned convention in the Federal Capital Territory.
In Bayelsa State, Alabh Turnah emerged as chairman of the party through a consensus arrangement at the newly inaugurated PDP secretariat in Yenagoa.
The congress was conducted by an electoral panel led by Austin Sor and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission amid heavy security presence.
Other members of the 20-man State Working Committee elected at the congress included Ato Ebibofayei as secretary and Biobelemoyei Goniwari as treasurer.
In his acceptance speech, Turnah thanked delegates and party stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work towards strengthening the party’s structure in the state.
“PDP is Bayelsa and Bayelsa is PDP. Do not be deceived by claims that PDP is now an opposition party in Bayelsa. That may be theoretical, but in practical terms, PDP remains the majority party in the state,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the party would regain its political strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Ekiti State, Lanre Omolase emerged as chairman of the PDP faction backed by Wike and former governor Ayodele Fayose.
Speaking after his emergence in Ado Ekiti, Omolase said the new executive would focus on rebuilding the party and repositioning it for future electoral victories.
“I will lead the party with the fear of God and ensure that the party regains its lost grounds in the state. We have all it takes to achieve that,” he said.
A member of the PDP National Caretaker Working Committee, Bisi Kolawole, said the national leadership was making efforts to restore unity within the party and rebuild its structures across the country.
He noted that consultations were ongoing among party leaders and stakeholders to strengthen internal democracy and reposition the PDP for future political contests.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the PDP State Congress Committee, Philip Adebiyi, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the congress and said steps were being taken to reconcile aggrieved members.
In Oyo State, the faction elected Abdulrahman Akinoso, a lecturer in the Department of Food Technology at the University of Ibadan, as state chairman.
Akinoso emerged during the state congress held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium under tight security.
Other officials elected include Abiola Olaonipekun as secretary, Latifah Latifu as women leader and A. Adeleke as youth leader, while officials of INEC monitored the exercise.
In his inaugural remarks, Akinoso said the immediate task of the new leadership would be to prepare the party for the 2027 general elections and strengthen its grassroots structures.
“Our immediate assignment is to key into the timetable for the 2027 general election as released by INEC. Our e-membership registration will commence next week, and we must fully participate in the membership drive,” he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Turaki-led National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, warned that the alleged dissolution of state executives in Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states by the Wike-backed faction could undermine ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party.
In a statement on Saturday, Ememobong described the move as illegal and urged party members to disregard it.
“This dissolution, which is illegal and unwarranted, is an affront to the proposed reconciliation for which talks are underway. This further attempt to deepen divisions at the state and other levels is null, void and of no effect whatsoever,” the statement read.
He urged party officials at state, local government and ward levels to continue carrying out their duties while reconciliation efforts within the party continue.
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