A senior figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate suspension of the party’s planned National Convention, warning that proceeding with the exercise amid ongoing legal and political disputes could deepen divisions within the opposition party and undermine its credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chieftain, who met with members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Reconciliation Team on November 12, 2025, urged the party leadership to prioritize unity and stability by setting up a Caretaker Committee to manage its affairs temporarily. He argued that this step was the only viable path toward genuine reconciliation and the restoration of internal peace.
According to him, the BOT Reconciliation Team, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, paid him a courtesy visit to seek his input on how best to address the growing tension within the party. The meeting, described as “meaningful and incisive,” reportedly focused on the party’s upcoming National Convention, scheduled to hold in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
During the meeting, he expressed regret that the much-anticipated convention, which was initially expected to reposition the PDP after a series of internal crises, had instead become a flashpoint for more disputes. He lamented that despite the tireless efforts of senior members to build consensus, the exercise had been overshadowed by multiple court orders and conflicting claims of legitimacy from different factions.
“The fact that the convention has become mired in legal and political controversy does not bode well for our party or for Nigeria’s democracy,” he said. “Political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts. The affairs of political parties are best settled amicably, with all sides sitting together to find common ground. Resorting to legal battles will only cause more friction and division.”
He noted that at present, there are contradictory court judgments concerning the validity of the scheduled convention, casting doubt on whether any decisions or outcomes from the event would stand the test of legality. This uncertainty, he warned, could have serious consequences for party members seeking to contest elections under the PDP banner.
“In the current situation, no serious politician with electoral ambition will want to contest on the platform of the PDP,” he said. “They cannot be sure if their nomination will be valid or later declared null and void. We must protect the integrity of our platform.”
The party elder therefore called for immediate action to prevent a deeper crisis. He advised that the National Working Committee (NWC) and the BOT should agree to suspend preparations for the Ibadan convention and instead constitute a neutral Caretaker Committee within the next two days. This interim body, he said, would manage party affairs, coordinate reconciliation among feuding factions, and prepare the ground for a more credible convention at a later date.
“This is the only way to rebuild confidence in the PDP,” he stressed. “It is not too late to find a win-win solution that will unite our members and strengthen the party ahead of the next election cycle.”
He warned that proceeding with the November convention as planned would only deepen mistrust and fuel further disputes among stakeholders, especially in states where the party already faces leadership challenges. “Going ahead with the National Convention in Ibadan will only worsen the crisis,” he cautioned. “It will be a waste of effort and resources. The time has come for the PDP to choose peace over pride.”
The PDP has been grappling with internal crises in recent years, ranging from disputes over leadership positions to disagreements about zoning and candidate selection. These conflicts have weakened its ability to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The forthcoming convention was initially seen as an opportunity for the opposition party to rebuild itself and strengthen its national structure ahead of the 2027 elections. However, a series of court injunctions from rival factions—each claiming legitimacy—has thrown the process into disarray.
Analysts say the legal tussles and power struggles within the PDP mirror broader challenges in Nigeria’s party system, where internal democracy remains fragile. Many observers believe that political parties in the country often rely too heavily on judicial intervention to settle internal disagreements, a trend that undermines collective decision-making and long-term stability.
Some party faithful have privately expressed concern that the PDP leadership appears more focused on control than on genuine reform. They argue that the endless disputes have discouraged younger members and frustrated many loyal supporters who still see the PDP as a viable alternative to the ruling APC.
Party insiders reveal that the Ibadan convention has divided the PDP into two major blocs—one insisting that the event must proceed as planned, and another calling for its postponement until the legal and constitutional issues are resolved. The BOT Reconciliation Team’s ongoing consultations are aimed at bridging this divide before it leads to another round of defections or internal implosions.
The elder statesman’s call for a caretaker committee appears to align with the position of some founding members of the party who believe that an interim leadership arrangement could help rebuild trust. They argue that such a committee, made up of respected and neutral figures, would have the credibility to manage the reconciliation process without being accused of bias.
Political analysts have noted that the PDP has been in a similar situation before. In 2016, the party was nearly torn apart by leadership battles between Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi, a crisis that lasted for months until a Supreme Court ruling restored order. The lessons from that episode, they say, should guide the current leadership in handling today’s challenges with greater wisdom and unity.
The call to suspend the Ibadan convention has already sparked reactions among PDP members nationwide. Some support the idea, saying it is better to delay the process than to hold a flawed convention that may worsen internal divisions. Others, however, insist that the convention must go on as planned, arguing that postponing it would send a signal of weakness to the party’s opponents and embolden defectors.
Despite these opposing views, many observers agree that the PDP cannot afford another prolonged crisis, especially with general elections less than two years away. The party, once Nigeria’s dominant political force, has struggled to regain its footing since losing power in 2015.
As the reconciliation team continues its consultations, all eyes are now on the PDP’s national leadership to see whether it will heed the call for caution and unity or proceed with a convention that could further test its fragile cohesion.
For now, the message from party elders is clear: peace and dialogue, not confrontation or court battles, offer the only path forward. Whether that advice will be taken may determine the future of the PDP as a credible national opposition.
