The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took another dramatic turn on Friday as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, dissolved the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Senator Ahmed Makarfi as Secretary, citing loss of credibility, moral authority and constitutional alignment.
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The development followed the inauguration of a new BoT at a meeting hosted by Wike at his Life Camp official residence in Abuja.
At the meeting, the new BoT urged compliance with a recent Federal High Court order halting the planned national convention of the party.
Factional Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, presided over the meeting, which also saw the formal announcement of Senator Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa from Abia State as the new BoT Chairman, with Hon. Isah Dansidi from the North as Secretary.
Speaking before the meeting went into a closed session, Muhammad said the reconstitution of the Board was part of ongoing efforts to restore discipline, order and moral direction within the PDP, lamenting that such values had been eroded under previous leadership.
He accused the dissolved Wabara-led BoT of losing “the moral balance expected of that noble institution”, noting that Wabara’s suspension by the Abia State chapter of the party for alleged anti-party activities rendered his continued leadership “untenable”.
“The Board that was meant to be the moral compass of our party became divided and ineffective. The credibility of that leadership was heavily questioned, and its continued role in national advisory matters became impossible to sustain,” he said.
Muhammad further blamed the tenure of the ‘suspended’ National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, for what he described as the party’s moral decline and disregard for judicial authority, accusing him of “protecting individuals who violated the party’s constitution and choosing convenience over the rule of law.”
“When any political party begins to disregard its own constitution and laws, it loses the very soul that holds it together. This was the painful reality we faced,” he stated.
The Acting Chairman hailed the intervention of concerned party members who sought judicial redress to “save the PDP from itself”, saying their action led to the recent Federal High Court judgement that paved the way for the reconstitution of the BoT.
He described the court decision as “a wake-up call to return to our roots and reawaken the values that once made the PDP the pride of Africa.”
He pledged that the newly inaugurated BoT would serve as a “symbol of rebirth” and the “conscience and compass” of the PDP, emphasising that its members were chosen based on integrity and fairness, not factional loyalty.
“This is not a reward for loyalty; it is a sacred trust. Your voices must be voices of unity, your advice rooted in fairness, and your actions must inspire confidence in our collective future,” Muhammad declared.
He admitted that the party’s internal decay began when it jettisoned its zoning principle before the 2015 elections, allowing personal ambition to override equity.
According to him, the new leadership was determined to rebuild the PDP on the foundations of transparency, justice and adherence to court judgements.
“We will rebuild this party with transparency. We will respect court judgements and the rule of law. We will conduct our congresses with fairness and integrity. We will restore public trust and make the PDP once again the moral voice of Nigeria’s democracy,” he pledged.
Muhammad added that the PDP could no longer hide under the excuse of “internal affairs” to justify impunity, insisting that party autonomy must still operate within constitutional limits.
“Internal affairs must still operate under constitutional order. Party autonomy cannot mean lawlessness. We must reform or risk irrelevance,” he warned.
The meeting also featured one of the founding fathers of the PDP and former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, who urged members to embrace reconciliation and rebuild the party into the formidable political force it once was.
“As one of the founding fathers and the oldest member of this family present here today, I know that PDP is a family and a party where every member has a sense of belonging. My appeal, therefore, to all of you, and in particular, the leadership of our party, is to ensure that PDP remains the beacon of democracy in Nigeria. PDP is like the ANC of South Africa,” Nwobodo said.
He called on the new leadership to constitute a strong reconciliation committee to reach out to aggrieved members and former stalwarts willing to return, saying many had already shown interest.
Turning to the host, he commended Wike for his performance as FCT Minister and urged him to deploy the same vigour in rebuilding the party.
“I entered Abuja after two years of being in Enugu, and I could not recognise Abuja. Abuja has changed. If you put that same effort into this party, PDP will be the party to beat,” he said.
Nwobodo expressed confidence that with unity and determination, the PDP could reclaim its dominant position in Nigeria’s politics.
At the end of the meeting, the newly reconstituted BoT issued a seven-point communiqué reaffirming its commitment to constitutional order, unity and lawful conduct ahead of the forthcoming National Convention.
The communiqué, jointly signed by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi, reaffirmed that the PDP remains “one indivisible, united and democratic family firmly committed to the ideals of justice, equity and progress” and recognised the authority of all legally constituted organs of the party.
It directed all organs and officers to ensure full and immediate compliance with the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on October 31, 2025, commending the judiciary for upholding constitutional supremacy and the rule of law.
The BoT also endorsed the conduct of a credible and inclusive National Convention but emphasised that all pre-convention processes must strictly adhere to the party’s constitution, INEC guidelines, and the court judgement.
It warned that no party organ should act in contempt of court, stressing that any action taken outside the law would be null and void.
While reaffirming that the Federal High Court judgement remains superior to the interim order of the Oyo State High Court, the Board advised that, in the spirit of prudence and respect for judicial processes, the proposed National Convention should be postponed pending the determination of the appeal.
The communiqué further confirmed the election of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi as Chairman and Secretary, respectively, replacing Senators Adolphus Wabara and Ahmed Makarfi, who were said to have compromised their neutrality.
The Board appreciated their past services to the party and wished them well.
It also pledged to act as the conscience of the party, promoting fairness, justice, inclusivity and internal harmony, while mediating among stakeholders to prevent divisive tendencies.
The BoT urged members to act with maturity, mutual respect and shared commitment to the unity and progress of the PDP, stressing that genuine reconciliation remains the foundation for lasting peace and stability.
It called on all PDP leaders, members and supporters across Nigeria and the diaspora to close ranks and work collectively toward a successful National Convention that would consolidate the unity and credibility of the party.
“The Board of Trustees pledges to continuously uphold its sacred responsibility as the conscience of the PDP – speaking truth with fairness, guiding with integrity, and ensuring that our great Party remains a beacon of democracy and hope for the nation,” the communiqué stated.
'I need help,' cried NYSC member, Chekwube Bernice Nnakife, who's fighting sickle cell0:00 / 0:00
The development followed the inauguration of a new BoT at a meeting hosted by Wike at his Life Camp official residence in Abuja.
At the meeting, the new BoT urged compliance with a recent Federal High Court order halting the planned national convention of the party.
Factional Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, presided over the meeting, which also saw the formal announcement of Senator Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa from Abia State as the new BoT Chairman, with Hon. Isah Dansidi from the North as Secretary.
Speaking before the meeting went into a closed session, Muhammad said the reconstitution of the Board was part of ongoing efforts to restore discipline, order and moral direction within the PDP, lamenting that such values had been eroded under previous leadership.
He accused the dissolved Wabara-led BoT of losing “the moral balance expected of that noble institution”, noting that Wabara’s suspension by the Abia State chapter of the party for alleged anti-party activities rendered his continued leadership “untenable”.
“The Board that was meant to be the moral compass of our party became divided and ineffective. The credibility of that leadership was heavily questioned, and its continued role in national advisory matters became impossible to sustain,” he said.
Muhammad further blamed the tenure of the ‘suspended’ National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, for what he described as the party’s moral decline and disregard for judicial authority, accusing him of “protecting individuals who violated the party’s constitution and choosing convenience over the rule of law.”
“When any political party begins to disregard its own constitution and laws, it loses the very soul that holds it together. This was the painful reality we faced,” he stated.
The Acting Chairman hailed the intervention of concerned party members who sought judicial redress to “save the PDP from itself”, saying their action led to the recent Federal High Court judgement that paved the way for the reconstitution of the BoT.
He described the court decision as “a wake-up call to return to our roots and reawaken the values that once made the PDP the pride of Africa.”
He pledged that the newly inaugurated BoT would serve as a “symbol of rebirth” and the “conscience and compass” of the PDP, emphasising that its members were chosen based on integrity and fairness, not factional loyalty.
“This is not a reward for loyalty; it is a sacred trust. Your voices must be voices of unity, your advice rooted in fairness, and your actions must inspire confidence in our collective future,” Muhammad declared.
He admitted that the party’s internal decay began when it jettisoned its zoning principle before the 2015 elections, allowing personal ambition to override equity.
According to him, the new leadership was determined to rebuild the PDP on the foundations of transparency, justice and adherence to court judgements.
“We will rebuild this party with transparency. We will respect court judgements and the rule of law. We will conduct our congresses with fairness and integrity. We will restore public trust and make the PDP once again the moral voice of Nigeria’s democracy,” he pledged.
Muhammad added that the PDP could no longer hide under the excuse of “internal affairs” to justify impunity, insisting that party autonomy must still operate within constitutional limits.
“Internal affairs must still operate under constitutional order. Party autonomy cannot mean lawlessness. We must reform or risk irrelevance,” he warned.
The meeting also featured one of the founding fathers of the PDP and former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, who urged members to embrace reconciliation and rebuild the party into the formidable political force it once was.
“As one of the founding fathers and the oldest member of this family present here today, I know that PDP is a family and a party where every member has a sense of belonging. My appeal, therefore, to all of you, and in particular, the leadership of our party, is to ensure that PDP remains the beacon of democracy in Nigeria. PDP is like the ANC of South Africa,” Nwobodo said.
He called on the new leadership to constitute a strong reconciliation committee to reach out to aggrieved members and former stalwarts willing to return, saying many had already shown interest.
Turning to the host, he commended Wike for his performance as FCT Minister and urged him to deploy the same vigour in rebuilding the party.
“I entered Abuja after two years of being in Enugu, and I could not recognise Abuja. Abuja has changed. If you put that same effort into this party, PDP will be the party to beat,” he said.
Nwobodo expressed confidence that with unity and determination, the PDP could reclaim its dominant position in Nigeria’s politics.
At the end of the meeting, the newly reconstituted BoT issued a seven-point communiqué reaffirming its commitment to constitutional order, unity and lawful conduct ahead of the forthcoming National Convention.
The communiqué, jointly signed by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi, reaffirmed that the PDP remains “one indivisible, united and democratic family firmly committed to the ideals of justice, equity and progress” and recognised the authority of all legally constituted organs of the party.
It directed all organs and officers to ensure full and immediate compliance with the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on October 31, 2025, commending the judiciary for upholding constitutional supremacy and the rule of law.
The BoT also endorsed the conduct of a credible and inclusive National Convention but emphasised that all pre-convention processes must strictly adhere to the party’s constitution, INEC guidelines, and the court judgement.
It warned that no party organ should act in contempt of court, stressing that any action taken outside the law would be null and void.
While reaffirming that the Federal High Court judgement remains superior to the interim order of the Oyo State High Court, the Board advised that, in the spirit of prudence and respect for judicial processes, the proposed National Convention should be postponed pending the determination of the appeal.
The communiqué further confirmed the election of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi as Chairman and Secretary, respectively, replacing Senators Adolphus Wabara and Ahmed Makarfi, who were said to have compromised their neutrality.
The Board appreciated their past services to the party and wished them well.
It also pledged to act as the conscience of the party, promoting fairness, justice, inclusivity and internal harmony, while mediating among stakeholders to prevent divisive tendencies.
The BoT urged members to act with maturity, mutual respect and shared commitment to the unity and progress of the PDP, stressing that genuine reconciliation remains the foundation for lasting peace and stability.
It called on all PDP leaders, members and supporters across Nigeria and the diaspora to close ranks and work collectively toward a successful National Convention that would consolidate the unity and credibility of the party.
“The Board of Trustees pledges to continuously uphold its sacred responsibility as the conscience of the PDP – speaking truth with fairness, guiding with integrity, and ensuring that our great Party remains a beacon of democracy and hope for the nation,” the communiqué stated.