A faction of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has installed a caretaker committee in Plateau State, marking a significant step in its nationwide restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The move targets the state chapter loyal to the faction led by former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. A statement from the faction’s National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) announced the 13-member committee, naming Dr. Gideon Nandem Tyem as Chairman and Goje A. Hirfo as Secretary. The committee is tasked with managing the party’s affairs in Plateau State immediately.
According to National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the action follows the party’s constitutional provisions allowing a caretaker committee to oversee state chapters pending the election of new executives. He stated the restructuring is central to the faction’s “rebuilding strategy,” aimed at stabilising internal structures during the transition.
The statement specified a clear, limited tenure for the caretaker arrangement. “The tenure of these committees shall be for 30 days, or until such a time as a new Executive Committee is elected,” it read. All appointed chairmen and secretaries are expected to assume duties across the affected states without delay.
This development underscores the ongoing internal realignment within the PDP, particularly between the Wike-aligned faction and the mainstream national leadership controlled by the party’s National Working Committee. The appointment of caretaker committees is a tactical move to reset leadership in states where the faction seeks greater control. Observers note that such reorganisations are critical for positioning key alliances ahead of the next electoral cycle, where the PDP aims to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The 30-day window in Plateau State will likely involve grassroots mobilisation and reconciliation efforts before state congresses are held to elect permanent executives.
