In a striking metaphor, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), likened his party to a cat with nine lives — reaffirming its resilience amid internal crises.
Speaking at a BoT meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Wabara acknowledged deepening divisions within the party’s leadership, yet asserted the PDP would endure. According to the official communique, the BoT “as the conscience of the party … cannot and will not take sides” in the wrangling between rival factions of the National Working Committee (NWC) headed respectively by Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu.
In response to the factional split, the BoT has set up a six-member “Reconciliation Committee” to reconcile the warring factions ahead of the scheduled Elective National Convention in Ibadan on 15-16 November 2025. Members of the committee include Amb. Hassan Adamu (Chair) and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe (Secretary). The committee is to report back by 11 November.
Wabara’s “nine-lives” metaphor is significant: it reflects both an acknowledgement of the party’s recurring internal crises and a bullish statement of survival — signalling to members, supporters and opponents alike that the PDP remains in the game despite repeated turbulence.
He said the recent breakdowns — including the invasion of the party’s National Secretariat — are “not reflective of the ideals and character of the PDP”. The BoT welcomed a recent ruling by the Oyo State High Court which affirmed the party’s constitutional right to hold its convention as scheduled.
The current crisis is part of longer-standing strains: Wabara in January 2025 emphasised that the PDP, despite its own problems, remained “the hope of Nigerians” and urged unity in the face of years of perceived mis-governance under the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).
Key Implications:
- The PDP’s acknowledgement of deep internal divisions may ease pressure on the BoT to take sides, but also signals vulnerability to external exploitation.
- The Reconciliation Committee could either heal or cement fault-lines depending on its handling of the grievances and power dynamics between factions.
- The metaphor of “nine lives” projects resilience — but may also highlight a dangerous cycle of crisis-management rather than proactive renewal.
- With the party’s convention only days away, the outcome of these internal manoeuvres will shape the PDP’s preparedness for the 2027 general election.
Bottom line: While the PDP is publicly declaring its ability to survive its current crisis, the real test will be in whether it can stabilise its leadership, restore internal trust and convincingly project unity ahead of the next electoral cycle.