PDP Leadership Crisis Takes New Turn
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently facing a significant leadership crisis, which has taken a fresh turn as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) was dissolved. This decision was made by the new leadership, who described the previous BoT as having lost its moral authority and political neutrality.
The acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, disclosed this information to newsmen at the Life Camp in Abuja, the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike. The decision was taken during an emergency session of the reconstituted BoT in Abuja, which was attended by the FCT Minister.
As part of the changes, former senator Mao Ohuabunwa emerged as the new BoT Chairman, while Hon. Isah Dansidi replaced Senator Ahmed Makarfi as Secretary. The inauguration event, which was attended by party leaders including elder statesman and founding member Chief Jim Nwobodo, saw the PDP leadership vow to rebuild the party’s moral foundation and restore internal democracy through fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
Reading the communiqué of the newly constituted BoT, Ohuabunwa explained that the shake-up became inevitable due to the erosion of neutrality by the previous leadership. He stated that the immediate past BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, had publicly taken sides in the ongoing intra-party crisis, making it impossible for them to continue in their roles.
The new leadership was chosen in line with the party’s internal balancing formula, with both Wabara and Ohuabunwa hailing from the South, while Makarfi and Dansidi come from the North. The communiqué reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to unity, discipline, and constitutional order, emphasizing that the party remains “one indivisible, democratic family anchored on justice, equity and progress.”
Court Judgment and National Convention
The new BoT threw its weight behind the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on 31 October 2025, describing it as binding and superior to any interim order from a state court. It directed all organs and officers of the party to comply fully with the judgment and commended the judiciary for “upholding the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.”
Regarding the planned national convention, the BoT urged caution, advising that the exercise be postponed pending the determination of the appeal already filed at the Court of Appeal. “Prudence and respect for judicial processes demand that the proposed National Convention be postponed until the Court of Appeal delivers its decision,” it declared.
The BoT also pledged to “serve as the conscience and stabilising moral compass of the party,” assuring that it would mediate among stakeholders to foster harmony and prevent divisive tendencies.
Leadership Reflections and Future Goals
In his welcome address, the acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, described the inauguration of the new BoT as a turning point for the party. He said the reconstitution marked “a return to the PDP’s founding values of justice, inclusivity and respect for the rule of law.”
He lamented that under the previous leadership, the party “lost its moral balance” and deviated from its constitutional principles. “The previous Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, sadly lost the moral balance expected of that noble institution,” Abdulrahman said. He noted that the credibility of that leadership became heavily questioned, and its continued role in national advisory matters became untenable.
Abdulrahman accused the suspended National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, of “choosing convenience over constitution and loyalty over legality,” adding that the PDP’s moral compass was compromised by impunity and selective enforcement of party rules.
According to him, the Federal High Court judgment was not an attack on the PDP but “a wake-up call to return to our roots and restore the order and ideals that made the PDP the pride of African democracy.” He charged the new BoT to act as the “moral voice and conscience of the party,” urging them to speak truth to power, defend justice, and promote inclusivity.
“This is not a reward for loyalty,” he told them, “but a sacred trust — a call to speak truth with courage and guide the party with integrity.”
Elder Statesman’s Message and Party Reconciliation
In a goodwill message, elder statesman Chief Jim Nwobodo, the oldest founding member of the PDP present, appealed to the new leadership to heal divisions and reach out to aggrieved members. “PDP is like the ANC of South Africa — it is the mother of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said. “Do all you can to bring about peace in our party. Many who left are willing to return if we open our doors.”
He praised Minister Wike for his performance in Abuja and urged him to channel the same energy toward rebuilding the party. “If you put that same effort into this party, PDP will be the party to beat again,” he said to applause.
In its resolutions, the BoT reaffirmed its dedication to reconciliation and inclusiveness, urging all members to “act with maturity, mutual respect and shared commitment to the unity and progress of the party.” It stressed that genuine reconciliation, internal democracy, and adherence to the constitution remain the bedrock of the PDP’s revival.
“The BoT pledges to continuously uphold its sacred responsibility as the conscience of the PDP by speaking truth with fairness, guiding with integrity and ensuring that our great party remains a beacon of democracy and hope for the nation,” the communiqué added.