The Peoples Democratic Party’s caretaker committee, backed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, has dissolved the executives of 14 state chapters. The committee, led by Acting Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman and Acting National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced plans to conduct fresh congresses in January 2026. This move comes amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the party.
According to a communiqué issued after the committee’s meeting in Abuja, the dissolved state chapters include Borno, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta, Taraba, Kano, and Lagos. The committee maintained that it is the only legitimate structure recognized by the party, with Abdulrahman and Anyanwu at the helm.
The leadership dispute began when PDP governors endorsed the Ibadan convention, which elected Tanimu Turaki as the new chairman on November 16. However, Wike and his allies, including Abdulrahman and Anyanwu, refused to recognize Turaki’s leadership, instead appointing themselves to a 60-day caretaker committee. During this period, the committee plans to conduct outstanding congresses and convene a national convention.
The caretaker committee has warned against any attempts to undermine the party’s image and challenged Turaki to provide proof of his claims that his executive has been recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The committee has also assigned portfolios to its members, including Professor Adenike Ogunse as Women Leader and Engineer Deji Dohati as Deputy National Secretary.
The dissolution of the state chapters and the plans for fresh congresses mark a significant development in the ongoing power struggle within the PDP. As the party prepares for its national convention, the outcome of these congresses is likely to have a significant impact on the party’s future direction. With the committee’s calendar for state congresses set to begin on January 9th, 2026, the party’s leadership dispute is likely to continue in the coming weeks.