Wike’s Faction Inaugurates 13-Member PDP Caretaker Committee
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Sunday night as the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction inaugurated a national caretaker committee ahead of the expiration of the current National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday, December 9.
The move, approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) during a meeting held at the official residence of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, followed a recommendation earlier made by the Board of Trustees (BoT) after its session in Abuja.
Mohammed disclosed that the NWC had already petitioned the Police and other security agencies over the botched 103rd NEC meeting, adding that security operatives were acting on the petition.
The 13-member Caretaker Committee has Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Secretary.
Other members include Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Hon. Umar M. Bature, Dr. Kyari Grema, Hon. Janguda Haruna Mohammed, Barr. Okechukwu Osuana, Senator Nwogu Olaka, Senator Sandy Onor, Prof. Adenike Ogunse, Hon. Bisi Kolawole, Engr. Deji Doherty and Dr. Ibrahim Bala Aboki.
The committee has been tasked with overseeing the party’s affairs for 60 days, during which pending congresses are to be concluded and a national convention conducted.
BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, stressed the need for the NEC to act promptly to avoid a leadership vacuum in the party.
Ohabunwa said, “Since nature abhors a vacuum, it has become imperative for the party to take necessary steps to avoid any lacuna,” he declared, noting that the caretaker structure would also be replicated in “affected states and the South East zone.”
State chairmen, represented by the Imo PDP Chairman, Augustine Nwachukwu, commended the NWC for “trying to put the party on a firm footing before the conduct of a national convention.”
The National Assembly caucus, represented by the Leader of the Caucus, Kingsley Chinda, also reaffirmed its confidence in the Abdulrahman Mohammed leadership. “Let the rule of law, which is entrenched in the PDP, have its way,” he said.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, intensified his confrontation with the opposing faction, declaring that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and others were “on their way out of the PDP.”
Wike also berated the other faction of the party for violating court judgments by conducting what he described as an “illegal convention,” insisting that the party must respect judicial processes if it intends to regain public confidence.
He accused the faction of disregarding two substantive judgments of the Federal High Court, which he said had ruled on the matter, yet they proceeded to hold their own convention and later approached a State High Court to seek recognition.
The FCT Minister warned that such actions could jeopardize the future of the party, stressing that leaders must not allow selfish interests to destroy the political platform that has existed since 1998.
“We won’t let those we accepted into the PDP kill the party. I joined the party in 1998. Bala Mohammed came after the doctrine of necessity that brought in President Jonathan in 2010. Makinde came from SDP, and then you want to push away those of us you met here. We won’t allow it. But they have no choice again, because they are on their way out. They have no choice”, he declared.
Wike criticized Governor Mohammed’s stewardship as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, saying he “should be ashamed” that under his watch the party lost several governors to the APC, contrasting it with his own period as governor, “when more people, including governors, came into the party.”
The former Rivers State governor also accused the rival faction of serially disobeying court judgments while attempting to secure legitimacy through questionable legal manoeuvres.
“You went to a State High Court to sue INEC, asking that the convention must take place, and you got an ex parte order to override judgments of the Federal High Court. How do you disobey two final judgments and still claim leadership?” he queried.
He added that the same group said it “had the convention without obeying the court, and now you are back asking a State High Court to recognize you. If INEC already recognizes you, what exactly are you going to court for?”
Warning that such actions threaten the party’s survival, Wike declared: “We must not allow our party to die. Leadership requires commitment and honesty, not propaganda. If we don’t respect our own laws, how do we earn respect from Nigerians?”
Meanwhile, the factional Board of Trustees aligned with Wike unveiled a sweeping internal restructuring agenda aimed at restoring stability to the party.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
