A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated a 19-member State Caretaker Committee to oversee the party’s affairs in Lagos State. This development follows a fresh twist in the PDP’s ongoing national leadership crisis, after the Wike-backed National Working Committee, NWC, announced the dissolution of some state party executives, including those in Lagos.
The factional NWC, chaired by Alhaji Abdulraman Mohammed, with Senator Samuel Anyanwu serving as National Secretary, has been at the center of the crisis. At the inauguration ceremony held in Ikeja, the Deputy National Secretary of the factional NWC, Mr Adedeji Doherty, criticized some party members for their blatant disregard for the PDP constitution. Doherty accused certain party leaders, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Chief Olabode George, of contributing to the internal crisis.
The newly constituted caretaker committee has the backing of “recognised PDP leaders” and aims to revive the party. Doherty urged party members to close ranks and described the November PDP convention as illegitimate, alleging it was conducted in violation of democratic principles. He maintained that Mohammed remains the lawful National Chairman of the party.
The Lagos caretaker committee, chaired by Mr Kayode Ogunbiyi, has been tasked with rebuilding the party structure in the state. The committee’s primary assignment is to be accomplished within a short period, with a mandate to fast-track schedules and report back to the National Secretariat within six weeks. Ogunbiyi assured that utmost decorum and discipline would be maintained at all levels of administration and encouraged women and youths to participate in the forthcoming congresses.
The caretaker committee will begin congresses at the ward, local government, zonal, state, and South-West zonal levels from January 9, 2026, with the process expected to be concluded within 60 days. The development has been described as “a new beginning and a rebirth of the PDP in the state” by the immediate past PDP Vice Chairman for Lagos Central, Mr Hakeem Olalemi.
The PDP’s internal crisis has forced many prominent figures out of the party, and the newly inaugurated committee faces the task of rebuilding and restoring order. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the party’s leadership crisis and internal divisions may impact its chances of unseating the incumbent president. The faction’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential second term has also raised questions about the party’s strategy and unity.