The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following the party’s national convention held in Abuja.
INEC reflected the development on its official website on Monday, where it published an updated list of the opposition party’s national leadership. The list names Abdulrahman Mohammed as the National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary, alongside other members elected into the party’s national leadership.
Both Mohammed and Anyanwu emerged at the PDP National Convention held on Sunday night at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The convention, which drew about 2,500 delegates from across the country, produced a new leadership for the party through a consensus arrangement after the dissolution of the National Caretaker Working Committee.
INEC’s recognition of the leadership marks a significant development in the prolonged crisis that has split the PDP into rival factions over the past several months.
The convention produced a full leadership structure in line with the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), which provides for a 19-member National Working Committee responsible for overseeing the party’s administration at the national level.
According to the list published by INEC, Abdulrahman Mohammed was elected National Chairman. Aaron Chukwuemeka emerged as Deputy National Chairman (South), while Yusufu Akirikwen (SAN) was elected Deputy National Chairman (North).
Samuel Anyanwu was confirmed as National Secretary, with Kolawale Olabisi emerging as Deputy National Secretary.
Other officers include Odeyemi Oladiran as National Treasurer and Lado Marke as Deputy National Treasurer. Eyim Henry was elected National Financial Secretary, while Grema Kyari serves as Deputy National Financial Secretary.
Umar Bature emerged as National Organising Secretary, with Efere Augustine as Deputy National Organising Secretary. Jungudo Mohammed was elected National Publicity Secretary, while Egwu Chidiebere serves as Deputy National Publicity Secretary.
The convention also produced Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) as National Legal Adviser and Aloysius Uba as Deputy National Legal Adviser. Osuoha Donatus emerged as National Auditor, with Adaba Seri Yatu serving as Deputy National Auditor.
Other officials include Prof. Ogunshe Adedayo as National Women Leader and Hauwa Shinge as Deputy National Women Leader. Ibrahim Aboki emerged as National Youth Leader, while Momoh Bashir was elected Deputy National Youth Leader.
Despite the emergence of the new leadership, the convention underscored the lingering divisions within the party as loyalists of the rival faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), stayed away from the gathering, insisting that the exercise lacked legitimacy.
Nevertheless, delegates from several states attended the Abuja convention, including representatives from Kebbi, Ekiti, Bauchi, Benue and Oyo states who participated in affirming the consensus candidates.
In Ogun State, the Secretary of the PDP, Dr Sunday Solarin, confirmed that the party remained divided over the convention.
He explained that while some members attended the gathering in Abuja, others aligned with the Turaki-led faction decided to boycott the event.
“Some members, believing Wike controls the party, have gone to Abuja for the convention. Others, like myself, who support the Turaki-led side, have stayed away,” Solarin said.
He added that despite the divisions, reconciliation efforts were still ongoing among party stakeholders.
In Ekiti State, the PDP bloc led by former governor Ayo Fayose also participated in the convention. The chairman of the bloc in the state, Lanre Omolase, described the gathering as the legitimate convention of the party.
“I am already at the venue of the convention in Abuja. We are here, the convention is holding. This is where the PDP is,” Omolase said.
Delegates from Benue State, led by former governor Samuel Ortom, were also present at the convention. The party’s media consultant in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, confirmed their participation.
Similarly, the Kebbi State chapter of the PDP declared support for the convention, with the state secretary, Abubakar Bawa Kalgo, stating that all delegates from the state were mobilised and participated fully in the exercise.
However, opposition to the convention persisted in some states. The Edo State chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, described the convention as illegal, arguing that a pending case before the Supreme Court made the exercise premature.
He urged INEC to carefully verify the list of delegates used for the convention, insisting that it might not correspond with the commission’s official records.
“There is a case before the Supreme Court that is yet to be determined. Holding a convention now amounts to an affront to the law,” Aziegbemi said.
In Sokoto State, the internal crisis deepened as a faction led by Abubakar Danmafara rejected the position of the state leadership to boycott the convention and instead participated in the Abuja gathering.
Amid the divisions, several party leaders used the occasion to call for unity and reconciliation within the party.
Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, said reconciliation was critical to the survival of the party and urged members to close ranks and rebuild trust.
The newly elected National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, described the convention as a turning point for the PDP after years of internal disputes.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki also appealed to aggrieved members to join the process, noting that the presence of INEC officials at the convention confirmed the legitimacy of the exercise.
Wike, in his remarks, commended party members for remaining loyal to the PDP despite the prolonged internal crisis and called for collective efforts to rebuild and reposition the party.
The convention comes against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership dispute that split the PDP into rival factions after competing conventions were held by opposing blocs.
However, with INEC now recognising the Wike-backed leadership, the faction appears to have gained a stronger foothold within the party’s national structure, even as reconciliation efforts continue among stakeholders ahead of future political contests.
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