Politics

Wike says PDP crisis over, declares doors open for returnees

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2026

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the internal storm rocking the party has subsided, announcing an open-door policy for former members seeking a return.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Wike likened politics to a game of football rather than a “fight to finish”.

He urged aggrieved politicians to set aside personal differences for the sake of the party’s progress.

Addressing the fallout from the party’s recent national convention, the former Rivers State governor stated that the time for internal bickering had passed, stressing that the party was now focused on reconciliation and rebuilding its ranks.

“As far as I’m concerned, the convention has come and gone. People are trooping in. I will say, the door is open. Yes, we have had crisis. Now the crisis is over. Do we still have to shut our doors? No. Certainly not,” Wike said.

The minister revealed that several members who had previously dumped the PDP had already signalled their intention to return, noting that the political environment was becoming increasingly acceptable for those ready to do the work.

Wike also took a swipe at the do-or-die mentality often associated with Nigerian politics, suggesting that such an approach made reconciliation impossible.

He framed the party’s recent struggles as a misunderstanding of intentions rather than a permanent fracture.

“Politics is not a fight to finish. It’s like a game, like a football. If you see it as a do or die, it becomes difficult to reconcile. For us, it’s not that way.

“We have had our differences, but if you’re really sincere, there’s nothing left. We can do it together and move the party forward,” he said.

Sending a message to aspiring candidates, Wike warned that political relevance was earned through visibility and hard work, not title alone.

He hinted that those who remained on the sidelines would not be recognised as serious contenders in future polls.

“There’s no doubt that we have a lot of work to do, but what is important is that we have put the convention behind us,” he added.

PUNCH Online reports that the PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since 2025, with rival factions holding separate conventions and fighting for control of the party in court.

This has stoked fears about the opposition’s unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

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Politics

Supreme Court Reserves Judgment In PDP, ADC Leadership Crises

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the leadership tussles within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), raising fresh uncertainty over the stability of the opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, reserved judgment after hearing arguments from parties in separate appeals challenging lower court decisions.

Naija News understands that no date was fixed for the delivery of the judgment. The development comes amid tight timelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

INEC has fixed May 10 for submission of party membership registers, while party primaries are scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The commission also set January 16, 2027, for Presidential and National Assembly elections, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state assembly polls.

With both parties embroiled in multiple litigations, their ability to organise congresses, primaries, and other activities has been significantly disrupted.

The situation has left aspirants in limbo, uncertain about their political future as the legal battles continue.

Within the PDP, the crisis has split the party into factions led by Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The Turaki-led faction, backed by Governor Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, is seeking validation of the party’s November 2025 convention held in Ibadan.

Lower courts had nullified the convention over alleged procedural breaches, including claims that Sule Lamido was denied the opportunity to contest.

ADC Crisis Deepens With Multiple Factions

The ADC is also facing a deepening leadership crisis involving former Senate President David Mark.

The dispute arose after the handover of party leadership by Ralph Nwosu to a coalition group led by Mark, sidelining Nafiu Gombe.

The situation has since split the party into three factions, including one aligned with Dumebi Kachikwu.

The crises have resulted in multiple cases before the courts, raising concerns about the parties’ readiness for the 2027 elections.

Mark, through his counsel, argued that the dispute is an internal party matter and should not be subject to judicial interference.

However, opposing factions insisted that the courts have jurisdiction over the matter.

Following the conclusion of arguments, the apex court reserved judgment, with a date to be communicated to the parties.

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Politics

Wike-backed PDP fixes presidential form at N51m, gov N21m

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fixed its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at ₦51m and governorship form at ₦21m ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PDP National Organising Secretary of the faction, Umar Bature, disclosed this in a timetable made available to journalists on Wednesday.

According to the schedule, the faction will submit its register to the Independent National Electoral Commission on April 21, 2026, and notify the commission of its primaries on April 22.

The timetable shows that the expression of interest form for all positions costs ₦1m, while nomination fees vary across offices.

Aspirants for State Houses of Assembly are to pay ₦2m, House of Representatives ₦3m, Senate ₦5m, governorship ₦20m, and presidential aspirants ₦50m.

The sale of forms will begin on April 27 and close on May 4, while the deadline for submission of completed forms is May 9.

Screening of aspirants for State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship positions is scheduled for May 11, while that of presidential aspirants will hold on May 12.

The presidential primary has been fixed for May 18, while governorship primaries will be held on May 27.

House of Representatives primaries are scheduled for May 21 and Senate primaries for May 23, while State Houses of Assembly primaries will hold between May 21 and May 24. Appeals are expected to be concluded by May 30, 2026.

Bature added that female aspirants would only pay the expression of interest fee for their respective positions.

The PDP has been embroiled in an internal crisis, leading to a split into two factions—one led by Tanimu Turaki and supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and the other led by Abdulrahman Mohammed with the backing of Wike.

Several cases filed by both factions are pending in court.

At the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the justices said a date for judgment would be communicated to the parties.

Post Views: 29

Politics

Supreme Court reserves judgment in PDP leadership dispute

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the nullification of its 2025 national convention.

A five-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garba announced that a date for judgment would be communicated to all parties after counsel adopted their final written addresses.

The Turaki faction is seeking to overturn the March 9 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed earlier decisions invalidating the party’s Ibadan convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

At the apex court, the faction argued that the dispute falls within internal party affairs and is therefore not justiciable, insisting that due process was followed in organising the convention.

However, lower courts had consistently ruled against the group, nullifying the exercise, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome, and issuing orders affecting access to the party’s national secretariat.

The appellate court had upheld two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which barred the PDP from conducting the convention pending compliance with the Electoral Act and the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

In one of the decisions, Justice James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required by law and its constitution, thereby invalidating the planned convention.

Similarly, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the party from proceeding with the convention until it allowed former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, to participate in the national chairmanship race after finding he was unjustly excluded.

The suits leading to the rulings were instituted by aggrieved party members, including state executives from Imo, Abia, and the South-South zone, setting the stage for the protracted leadership crisis now before the apex court.

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