The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed its plan to conduct state congresses and eventually a national convention to elect party officials at the state and national level.

The chairman of the factional Board of Trustees, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, disclosed this known on Sunday during the opening session of the BoT meeting held at Wike’s  official residence at Life Camp, Abuja.

Ohuabunwa disclosed that efforts were already ongoing to reorganise PDP structures in states affected by internal crises through the constitution of caretaker committees ahead of congresses and the party’s next convention.

“Like I said, we are also making meaningful progress in reorganising affected states, including the constitution of credible caretaker committees, to prepare the ground for transparent congresses and subsequent convention process.

These efforts are aimed at building trust, strengthening internal structures, and ensuring that our party remains a model of fairness and inclusiveness in Nigerian democratic space,” Ohuabunwa stated.

He said the BoT would throw its weight behind the factional Nationl Working Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, to ensure that the party’s affairs are run strictly in line with the law and established party guidelines.

“We are going to work with this NWC; we are going to encourage them, we are going to support them to ensure that the right things are done, and that things will be done in line with the law and the guidance of our great party, the PDP,”  Ohuabunwa said.

The former senator stressed that the BoT, as provided for in the PDP constitution, has a moral responsibility to serve as the stabilising force within the party.

“As the constitution of our party entails, the Board of Trustees must continue to provide stability, wisdom, and moral guidance. Our responsibility is to safeguard the party’s soul, steer it away from divisive tendencies, and reinforce the values that have historically set the PDP apart as a disciplined and a democratically established institution. In this defining moment, therefore, we must rise above sentiments and act with unity of all,” he said.

Ohuabunwa charged members of the BoT to remain steadfast in consolidating ongoing reforms within the party and ensuring unity ahead of future political contests.

“Our duty is clear, well stated, to consolidate the reforms already underway, deepen internal cohesion, and ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party emerges stronger, more virile, more united, and fully prepared for the leadership responsibilities ahead. I thank you all for your steadfastness, for your dedication and commitment, and your loyalty to our great Party. This is the time we should stand to be counted,” he added.

The PUNCH reports that Ohuabunwa emerged factional BoT Chairman of the PDP on November 7, 2025, following a meeting held at Wike’s official residence, where Ibrahim Dansidi was also appointed board secretary.

The planned convention deepens the PDP crisis, in which a bloc aligned with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde had in November held a national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced Turaki Taminu as the APC National Chairman.

The Ibadan convention held amid conflicting court orders, permitting and stopping it at the same time.

The Wike bloc is currently in court seeking an order to nullify the Ibadan convention.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Speculation is mounting that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, may soon dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress following fresh political turbulence in the state.

Last Friday, 17 members of the House of Assembly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule announced their defection from the PDP to the APC, instantly shifting the legislature’s balance of power. The only three lawmakers considered loyal to Fubara have not resumed sitting since the six-month emergency rule in the state was lifted, deepening uncertainty around the governor’s political future.

Speaking with The PUNCH, a PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, said recent political movements in the South-South suggest Fubara may eventually head to the ruling party at the centre.

Nwuke, who represented Etche–Omuma in the National Assembly and once served as Rivers Commissioner for Information, said the defection of governors in Delta, Akwa Ibom and, most recently, Bayelsa—formerly PDP strongholds—points to a broader trend that may pull Fubara along.

He said, “If you look at what is going on in the South-South, governors elected on the PDP platform have decamped. Did we expect the Rivers lawmakers to move? It may have come as a surprise, but when you consider the crisis in the PDP, was it avoidable? Possibly not.

“When a party is bedevilled by crisis, people will naturally look for alternatives. The anti-defection provisions in the constitution recognise differences at the national level, and there are clear indications of such differences in the PDP.”

Describing the PDP’s recent internal actions—including issuing an unprecedented “expulsion certificate”—as signs of deep-seated turmoil, Nwuke said PDP members are simply reacting to a party that “has not been this divided in a long time.”

On whether Fubara might soon join the APC, he said, “There are speculations that the APC has been wooing the governor. Only he can confirm whether he is crossing. But what we’re seeing suggests he may consider leaving the PDP. And if he does, he will not be the first.”

But a senior Government House official, who asked not to be named, dismissed the rumours, insisting Governor Fubara had shown no sign of defecting.

“We are not aware that the governor wants to defect,” he said. “Even the lawmakers claiming to have moved to the APC have not fulfilled the Supreme Court requirement of registering at their wards. Until they produce evidence, nobody should take their claims seriously.”

The official added that the APC’s upcoming national convention means anyone intending to join the party at this time “would have shown clear signals,” which Fubara has not.

“I don’t see any sign and he has not told us he will be joining the APC. Very soon the APC will round off receiving defectors because in December they will hold their convention. If the governor wanted to move, he would have shown signs by now. But let’s keep our fingers crossed,”he added.

Similarly, the factional PDP chairman in Rivers State, Robinson Ewor, mocked the defected lawmakers, saying the party would work to reclaim its mandate.

“My prayer is that they shouldn’t deny again,” he said. “There is no division in the PDP that justifies their action. What they are holding is the PDP’s mandate.”

Ewor vowed that the PDP would reclaim its mandate from the defected lawmakers.

“We must definitely talk to the remaining PDP lawmakers. And for those who have moved, the party must make an effort to reclaim its mandate. What they are holding is the PDP mandate.”

When asked if he would welcome Fubara to the APC, state APC chairman, Tony Okocha, said he had not been contacted by the governor.

“I’m not a soothsayer. The governor has not reached out to me. If I have the opportunity of talking to him, I will advise him to follow his mind. Why put the cart before the horse?” he said.

Meanwhile, fresh tension may be brewing as the Amaewhule-led Assembly continues to sit at the lawmakers’ residential quarters along Aba Road, despite Fubara’s insistence that the newly reconstructed Assembly complex will be ready this month and his promise to present the 2026 budget there.

At their sitting last Friday, Amaewhule queried the governor’s delay in forwarding a full list of commissioner-nominees to the House, noting that Fubara was running the state with only eight commissioners—an action he said contravenes constitutional expectations.

A former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has denied being indicted in any corruption-related matter.

He also affirmed his membership in the People’s Democratic Party.

The ex-governor was recently nominated by President Bola Tinubu for an ambassadorial position and is awaiting Senate confirmation.

Sunday PUNCH had analysed the nominees, spotlighting five surrounded by controversies.

In Ikpeazu’s case, our correspondent referenced a Premium Times report on a 2024 KPMG document.

The 359-page document, titled ‘Final Report: Provision of Process Review Services to Abia State Government,’ was said to have flagged financial irregularities under the former governor’s administration.

It was also reported that the state government submitted a copy of the document to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for possible prosecution of those indicted.

But responding in a statement on Sunday, Ikpeazu said the KPMG report was misrepresented.

In the statement, Ikpeazu’s media adviser, Enyinnaya Appolos,  argued that no audit of Abia State’s accounts was carried out; rather, KPMG conducted only a process review.

He said, “What the current administration commissioned was a process review — not a financial audit, not a forensic investigation, and certainly not an indictment.”

According to him,  the document explicitly stated that the assignment was not conducted in the capacity of a statutory auditor, nor was KPMG required to render any opinion on the state’s financial statements.

The document quoted by Appolos was addressed to the Abia State Governor and was sighted by our correspondent on Sunday.

The document, dated March 2, 2024, read in part, “This assignment was not performed by us in the capacity of a statutory auditor. Hence, this is not any form of financial statement audit of ABSG or any entity listed in the report. We are, therefore, not required to render an opinion on the financial statements of ABSG or any entity listed in the report.

“Rather, we have performed the procedures we considered appropriate in the circumstances and in line with the relevant KPMG methodology.

“We were also not required to review the adequacy or otherwise of the output of the prior or current external auditors and/or consultants of ABSG.”

KPMG added that it “did not conduct a trial or inquiry in the course of the assignment, act as a tribunal, commission of inquiry, or in any judicial or quasi-judicial role; perform any adjudicatory function whatsoever; or conduct any exercise aimed at determining whether any person was guilty or innocent of any offence.”

Appolos stressed that “a process review cannot ‘indict’ anyone. It merely evaluates procedural compliance. It cannot make findings of guilt or wrongdoing.”

He also dismissed claims that Ikpeazu diverted N1.9tn, describing it as impossible.

“Abia State under Ikpeazu did not generate or access up to N1tn in total revenue in eight years. How does someone divert what does not exist?” he added.

He noted that the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies had previously reviewed and dismissed as politically-motivated allegations of diversion of N10bn meant for the Abia Airport project.

Appolos noted that since leaving office in 2023, Ikpeazu had never been charged, prosecuted, or invited by any court over corruption allegations.

“Dr Ikpeazu served Abia State diligently for eight uninterrupted years and left office without legal or administrative blemish,” he added.

He also dismissed the notion that Ikpeazu had dumped the PDP for the APC.

Appolos said, “His Excellency Okezie Ikpeazu has never defected to the APC. He remains a card-carrying and loyal member of the PDP.

“Only three weeks ago, he attended the PDP stakeholders’ meeting held on 18 November 2025. Any suggestion that he joined the APC is not only false but easily disproved by public records and party officials.”

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM