The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has a new acting national chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who has vowed to restore unity and stability within the opposition party. Mohammed made this pledge on Monday when he assumed office at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, acknowledging the party’s deepening leadership crisis.

The PDP has been embroiled in a protracted crisis, which has led to factionalization and a significant decline in its fortunes. The party, which ruled Nigeria for 16 consecutive years, has been in opposition for over a decade, with many of its key members, including governors and lawmakers, defecting to other parties.

Mohammed, who became the acting national chairman through the intervention of key stakeholders, has identified his priority as healing the wounds within the party and repositioning it to become more law-abiding. He aims to achieve this by planning an all-inclusive national convention and handing over the party to a properly elected national working committee after completing outstanding congresses at various levels.

To achieve his objectives, Mohammed will need the support and cooperation of all party members and stakeholders. He has commenced consultations with key party figures and plans to convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, to address pressing internal issues. This move follows a turbulent weekend in which a faction of the party suspended several top officials, including the national secretary and legal adviser, over alleged anti-party activities.

The development is significant, given the PDP’s status as a major opposition party in Nigeria. The party’s ability to resolve its internal crises and present a united front will be crucial in its bid to regain power in future elections. With Mohammed’s assumption of office, the party appears to be taking steps towards addressing its internal challenges and repositioning itself for the future. The success of his efforts will depend on the cooperation of party members and the ability to navigate the complex web of interests within the party.