The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed
Mohammed’s faction of the opposition party is backed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to checks on INEC’s website on Monday, the electoral body listed Mohammed as the PDP National Chairman.
Other members of the NWC recognised include the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Treasurer, Ahmed Mohammed; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro; and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN.
This comes a day after the PDP held a national convention at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
At the event, Mohammed and other members of the NWC were elected by the over 2,000 delegates drawn from the 36 states that participated in the exercise.
In attendance were ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti, among others.
The PDP is divided into two factions.
The faction led by Kabiru Turaki had asked the Supreme Court to restrain the Wike camp from holding the national convention.
Speaking at the convention, Wike said the party has successfully overcome the crisis of leadership that threatened its survival.
The FCT minister said loyal party members “fought and returned the party to its rightful owners”.
“Together we fought against proponents of ethnic and geographic divisions; we trounced the naysayers who abandoned the core values upon which the party was built and, in the process, arrested the party from the vice grip of those who abhor internal democracy and shun adherence to the rule of law,” Wike said.
“More importantly, we fought and returned the party to its rightful owners, the people, an accomplishment which speaks to the fundamental principle upon which the party was erected.”
Wike said grassroots members had been keeping the party stable through the crisis, adding that despite “the infidelity of opportunistic elite,” rank-and-file supporters remained steadfast.
With this recognition, is PDP now back on track to field candidates in the 2027 election? Share your views in the comments.