As early delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) troop into Ibadan ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, the opposition party appears to be marching confidently toward a gathering whose legitimacy is being questioned from every corner of its own house.
Despite the colourful banners, hotel bookings, and the humming political atmosphere in Oyo State’s capital, the PDP is deeply entangled in a storm of conflicting court orders, factional power tussles, and escalating calls for the immediate installation of a caretaker committee.
A Convention Under a Legal Cloud
The Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) insists that “there is no going back,” positioning the Ibadan gathering as the step needed to stabilise the party. But behind this boldness lies the unresolved contradiction of two opposing judicial pronouncements.
A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the convention to be halted, faulting the party for allegedly failing to conduct valid state congresses in several states. Yet, almost simultaneously, a High Court in Oyo State granted the green light, authorising the same convention to proceed.
This judicial dissonance has placed the PDP in a precarious position — any decision taken in Ibadan, including leadership elections, could be challenged and potentially nullified.
Factional Resistance and Boycott Threats
Beyond the courtroom drama, the party’s internal politics is no less explosive. The Wike/Anyanwu faction, emboldened by the Abuja court ruling, has declared the convention “an illegality” and is pushing for a full boycott. Several state chapters aligned to this bloc are expected to stay away.
The Saraki camp has also moved into the fray. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, in a strongly worded advisory, called on the PDP to “stop the Ibadan convention before it tears the party apart,” urging the immediate formation of a caretaker committee to midwife reconciliation and oversee proper congresses nationwide.
Yet, in sharp contrast, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Senator Adolphus Wabara believes the show must go on, describing the convention as “a constitutional gathering that remains valid until a superior court says otherwise.”
Delegates Arrive, But With Questions
On the ground in Ibadan, delegates have started checking into hotels, holding caucus meetings and exchanging political notes about what many now quietly describe as “a convention of uncertainties.”
A senior delegate from the North-Central, who requested anonymity, told Abuja Network News, “We are here because the party invited us, but nobody can pretend that everything is alright. If this convention goes ahead, the matter will end up in court again.”
Timeline of the Crisis So Far
- Abuja Court Ruling: Orders immediate suspension of the convention over alleged invalid state congresses.
- Ibadan Court Ruling: Declares the convention valid and empowers the PDP to proceed.
- Factional Statements: Wike/Anyanwu bloc declares boycott; Damagum faction insists on continuation.
- Saraki’s Intervention: Calls for suspension and immediate formation of a caretaker committee.
- BoT Position: Convention remains valid until declared otherwise by a higher court.
High Stakes for 2027 and Beyond
The implications of this crisis stretch far beyond Ibadan. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the PDP risks entering the next national contest with unresolved internal fractures — fractures that may weaken its ability to compete effectively against the ruling APC.
If the party emerges from Ibadan with a leadership that is immediately dragged into litigation, the PDP may find itself in court instead of the campaign field. And for a party that once prided itself on being “the largest party in Africa,” this moment could determine whether it rebuilds or completely unravels.
The Big Question
As delegates settle into Ibadan for a convention shrouded in legal uncertainty and political division, Nigerians watch with one pressing question:
Is the PDP holding a convention to rescue itself — or walking into a crisis that could finally break it?