Abuja, Nigeria – Delegates from across Nigeria, led by representatives from Kebbi, Ekiti, Bauchi and several other states, converged in Abuja on Sunday for the 2026 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The event, endorsed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saw the election of a 19-member National Working Committee (NWC) aimed at repositioning the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The convention took place at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, with over 2,500 delegates in attendance. Using a consensus approach, the PDP affirmed the following leaders:
National Chairman: Abdulrahman Mohammed
Deputy National Chairman (South): Aaron Chukwuemeka
Deputy National Chairman (North): Yusufu Akirikwen (SAN)
National Secretary: Anyanwu Samuel
Deputy National Secretary: Kolawale Olabisi
National Treasurer: Odeyemei Oladiran
Deputy National Treasurer: Lado Marke
National Financial Secretary: Eyim Henry
Deputy National Financial Secretary: Dr. Grema Kyari
National Organising Secretary: Umar Bature
Deputy National Organising Secretary: Efere Augustine
National Publicity Secretary: Jungudo Mohammed
Deputy National Publicity Secretary: Egwu Chidiebere
National Legal Adviser: Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN)
Deputy National Legal Adviser: Aloysius Uba
National Auditor: Osuoha Donatus
Deputy National Auditor: Dr. Adaba Yatu
National Youth Leader: Ibrahim Aboki
Deputy National Youth Leader: Momoh Bashir
National Women Leader: Prof. Ogunshe Adedayo
Deputy National Women Leader: Hauwa Shinge
The convention reflected both alignment and division within the party. While delegates from Benue, Ekiti, and Ogun States attended, representatives from Edo State and some other regions boycotted, citing pending legal disputes and ongoing reconciliation efforts.
In Sokoto State, the party witnessed an internal split, with the pro-acting National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, group defying the boycott and participating in the convention, highlighting persistent internal fractures.
Key PDP leaders, including former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, newly elected Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, PDP National Leader Nyesom Wike, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, called for reconciliation and unity. They urged members to close ranks, rebuild trust, and prepare the party for future contests.
Speaking at the convention, Ikpeazu stressed the importance of inclusiveness, unity, and renewal, describing the gathering as a symbolic democratic milestone for the party. “We may have lost some elections, but the vital credentials of this party still reside with us. From this convention, we shall rebuild, rebrand, and reposition the PDP into a stronger, cohesive, and forward-looking political force,” he said.
Abdulrahman Mohammed declared the opening of the convention, highlighting the need to prioritize internal stability over rivalry. Saraki reaffirmed the legitimacy of the gathering, noting the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a validation of the process.
Wike, in his address, praised grassroots members for remaining loyal to the PDP despite internal crises and called for a renewed commitment to the party’s founding principles of service to the people.
The convention comes after a nearly three-year internal crisis that split the PDP into rival factions. The governors’ bloc, led by Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, had previously held a convention in Ibadan on November 16, 2025, where Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and others were elected into the NWC.
Following court interventions, including a Court of Appeal ruling on March 9, 2026, which invalidated the Ibadan convention, the Wike faction proceeded to mobilize delegates for the Abuja gathering, affirming 19 leaders to the NWC.
The PDP now faces the dual challenge of consolidating internal reconciliation while positioning itself to contest the 2027 elections effectively.
