A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with Nyesom Wike has elected a new National Working Committee (NWC), deepening the internal power struggle within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The elective national convention took place on Sunday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where delegates endorsed a fresh leadership structure largely through consensus following the dissolution of the party’s national caretaker committee.
The development comes as the PDP remains sharply divided between rival factions competing for control of the party’s national machinery ahead of future political contests.
Tensions had escalated days earlier when a faction led by Kabiru Turaki approached the Supreme Court seeking an order to stop the Wike-backed bloc from holding the convention, arguing that the process lacked legitimacy.
At the convention, Abdulrahman Mohammed emerged as National Chairman, while Anyanwu Samuel was elected National Secretary. Other positions were also filled across the party’s executive structure, including deputy chairmanship, treasury, publicity, legal affairs, youth leadership, and women’s leadership.
Among the newly elected officials are Aaron Chukwuemeka as Deputy National Chairman (South), Yusufu Akirikwen as Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Bature as National Organising Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed as National Publicity Secretary, and Kamaldeen Ajibade as National Legal Adviser.
The full list also includes officers for finance, auditing, youth mobilisation, women affairs, and administrative support roles, completing a 21-member national working committee.
The convention marks a significant move by the Wike-backed faction to consolidate influence within the PDP, even as questions remain over recognition, legitimacy, and the possibility of further legal battles within the party.
