PDP Convention: Delegates Arrive In Ibadan Amid Calls For Caretaker C’ttee

Delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have started arriving in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, ahead of the national convention scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, even as the party remains entangled in a web of conflicting court rulings, internal resistance, and escalating calls for a caretaker committee to manage its affairs.

By Thursday evening, it was gathered that the city was gradually filling up with party chieftains, loyalists of the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), and members of various convention subcommittees who insist that the event will proceed despite growing opposition from another bloc within the party.

Deputy Governor of Oyo State and Chairman of the Venue Subcommittee of the National Convention Organising
Committee (NCOC), Engr Bayo Lawal, inspected the level of preparedness at the Lekan Salami Stadium and expressed confidence that the venue would be ready before the convention officially opens on Saturday.

According to him, the pace of work and the turnout of members of the organising committee indicated strong readiness.

His assurances aligned with the insistence of the Damagum group that the party could not
afford another postponement after months of wrangling over leadership, zoning and preparations for the 2027
general elections.

South-South Zonal Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, confirmed that many leaders
had already arrived, while others were expected today. According to him, committee chairmen were already on
ground giving final touches to logistics, accreditation and security arrangements.

He maintained that governors and members of the NWC loyal to Damagum would be joining them in Ibadan, and brushed aside growing calls for the appointment of a caretaker committee.

For Ogidi, such a step has no basis in the party’s constitution.

“What you should know is that we are going ahead with our convention. There is no provision for any caretaker committee; we did not make provisions for it,” he told Daily Trust.

Meanwhile, yesterday after a closed door between the PDP governors with the Damagum-led National Working Committee and members of the Board of Trustees, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, insisted that the convention is sacrosant. “We are going to Ibadan. The convention is sacrosant’’, he said.

Sources said the discussions had grown increasingly intense as leaders weighed the legal and political implications of proceeding with the Ibadan gathering under the current uncertainty. It was also learnt that the governors and other senior stakeholders were giving serious consideration to the option of setting up a caretaker committee, a proposal that has been quietly promoted by some influential figures within the party who argue that it offers the most legally defensible and politically stabilising path at this time.

House caucus drums support for convention

The party’s caucus in the House of Representatives also moved quickly to rally support, issuing a notice urging its members to disregard the announcement of cancellation issued by the faction loyal to Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Signed by Hon Frederick Agbedi and Hon Midala Balami, the caucus leader and secretary respectively, the statement welcomed all delegates to what it described as the “Ibadan 2025 Elective Convention,” which it said would breathe new life into the party.

Members of the caucus were invited to a pre-convention meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday at the state secretariat, with leaders insisting that the purported cancellation was the handiwork of suspended officials who had lost legitimacy.

Yet, while supporters of Damagum were streaming into Ibadan, another influential bloc aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, maintained its hardline opposition to the event. The group argues that the conflicting court decisions, as well as ongoing internal disputes, make proceeding with the convention a dangerous gamble.

They are instead pushing for a caretaker committee to manage the party until all legal issues are concluded and peace is restored.

As of the last count, those opposed to holding the convention and calling for a caretaker leadership include Wike, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who himself circulated a notice announcing the postponement of the convention.

Others are; former Jigawa State Governor and national chairmanship aspirant Sule Lamido, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and 2027 presidential aspirant Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.

Several state executives, particularly in the North-West and parts of the North-Central, are also said to be considering a boycott.

The party’s crisis deepened further as a result of contradictory court rulings. On 31 October, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the convention, ruling that the PDP failed to meet statutory notification requirements. On 11 November, Justice Peter Lifu of the same Abuja division granted an order restraining both the PDP and INEC from going ahead with the exercise, following a suit filed by Sule Lamido challenging his alleged exclusion from purchasing the nomination forms for the national chairmanship contest.

Contrary to the Abuja rulings, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan issued an order allowing the convention to proceed so long as the party adhered to its published guidelines. Justice Ladiran Akintola extended an earlier directive in favour of the event, a ruling which the Damagum bloc has since adopted along with the Supreme Court earlier decision on party affairs as the legal foundation for pressing ahead.

These sharply divergent rulings have polarised the PDP, deepening factional lines and fueling arguments over the legality of proceeding. One faction insists that the Ibadan court’s ruling, being the most recent and issued within the state where the convention is to be held, is the operative order. The opposing camp insists that the Abuja orders remain binding and that disregarding them amounts to contempt of court.

Saraki pulls out of convention, proposes caretaker committee

Amid these tensions, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has emerged as one of the strongest voices urging the party to suspend the convention.

In a post on his social media pages after a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Team led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Saraki argued that holding the convention under such controversial circumstances would only exacerbate the party’s wounds.

He described the engagement with the BoT team as “meaningful and incisive,” but insisted that the party could not ignore the realities of the conflicting judgments.

“Despite the selfless efforts by some of us, the convention has become mired in political and legal controversies which do not bode well for our party or Nigeria’s democracy,” Saraki said.

He argued that the uncertainties raised by contradictory court orders could potentially invalidate the outcome of the convention, thereby throwing the party into deeper turmoil. Political disputes, he added, are more effectively settled through internal dialogue rather than through courts.

Saraki’s proposed solution is the immediate establishment of a caretaker committee to steer the party temporarily and create a level playing field for all stakeholders. According to him, such a structure would also help rebuild trust, restore stability and ensure the PDP remains a viable platform for those contesting future elections.

Shortly after making these comments, Saraki met with Sule Lamido, whose court action is also central to the legal battles surrounding the event.

In another twist, the Federal High Court in Abuja failed to deliver its judgment on Lamido’s substantive suit on Thursday as expected.

Justice Lifu, who had earlier reserved judgment for 13 November, informed parties through an official that the ruling was not yet ready. The court assured that a new date would be communicated.

Lamido’s suit seeks to stop the convention outright, arguing that his exclusion from purchasing nomination forms violates both the PDP constitution and electoral guidelines.

Wabara-led BoT insists on convention

As the legal uncertainties persisted, the PDP BoT led by Senator Adolphus Wabara received the report of the reconciliation committee on Thursday.

Wabara reiterated the position that the convention would go ahead as planned. He acknowledged that the party was facing a self-inflicted crisis but insisted that it remained committed to respecting lawful court orders.

“If we are stopped by the courts, we are a law-abiding party. We will obey the law or obey the last order, as the case may be,” Wabara said.

Another influential party leader, Chief Bode George, also dismissed calls for suspension of the convention and the establishment of a caretaker committee.

In an interview on Arise Television, George described such proposals as unnecessary and unconstitutional. He accused some leaders of pursuing selfish agendas and reminded them that the Supreme Court had already ruled that parties should resolve their disputes internally. According to him, the NWC majority remains committed to holding the convention.

George further criticised what he called irresponsible conduct within the party, arguing that such behaviour dishonours the legacies of the party’s founding fathers. He accused the Anyanwu group of overreach, pointing out that only three members of the roughly 19-member NWC align with the faction’s position. He also lambasted the National Secretary for allegedly circulating a misleading notice announcing the postponement of the convention.

Wike-backed faction maintain opposition to convention

In contrast, the Wike faction maintained its firm opposition after holding a meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Led by Wike, Acting National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, factional BoT Chairman Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, National Secretary Senator Anyanwu and House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, the group declared the Ibadan convention illegal.

Ohuabunwa described the planned event as a “jamboree,” insisting that going to Ibadan for a convention would be an exercise in futility because the law does not recognise it. According to him, the party must respect court orders and avoid flagrant abuses of the constitution.

The faction insists that the proper approach is to await the conclusion of all legal processes before organising a legitimate convention that unites the party, rather than deepens divisions.

Acting Chairman Abdulrahman Muhammad urged delegates nationwide to stay away from the convention and wait for “the right time.” He pledged that his group would continue mobilising for a stronger and more united PDP.

Wike, speaking during the meeting, commended members for staying committed and assured them that he would not betray their trust.

He reiterated his group’s commitment to rule of law and constitutional order, insisting that the party must not succumb to intimidation or illegal manoeuvres.

His group insisted that anyone travelling to Ibadan is merely going for relaxation and not for an officially recognised PDP function. They insist that its members will not participate in what it considers a violation of the party’s constitution and a disregard for court orders.

Meanwhile, Timothy Osadolor, a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), argued that the caretaker committee proposal remains a viable option, but only if the governors, who wield considerable influence, are willing to support it.

According to him, ego and political hubris have contributed significantly to the crisis, and the party’s leadership must be willing to prioritise peace over personal interests.

Osadolor noted that time was running out, with the current NWC’s tenure set to expire on December 10. He pointed out that INEC requires only 21 days’ notice for a convention, meaning the party still has a narrow window to organise a credible gathering if it reaches a consensus.

He however expressed concern that the ongoing “grandstanding” by both camps could prevent a rational and united response to the crisis. The NEC member warned that more members were taking risks travelling across the country for a convention that may ultimately not resolve the party’s internal contradictions.(Daily trust)