PDP crisis: Wike group dissolves party structures, set for fresh registration

Nyesom Wike, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister

The crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Thursday as a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike announced the dissolution of the party’s structures in 14 states, ahead of a fresh membership registration scheduled to begin in early January 2026.

The decision was contained in a communiqué issued by the faction’s National Working Caretaker Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

Abdulrahman Mohammed, acting national chairman of the Wike group, said the caretaker committee, led by Mohammed Jungudu, would oversee the party’s affairs nationwide for an initial period of 60 days.

“We are here again as a caretaker committee to manage the activities of the party across the federation and ensure that everything is done in line with the constitution,” Mohammed said. “We want the public to understand that we have a formidable team capable of taking responsibility for the day-to-day running of the party.”

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He urged party members and the public to disregard individuals “parading themselves and holding meetings outside the structure of the caretaker committee.”

“The public should not panic. There is only one PDP under my leadership and that of my team as the caretaker committee of our great party,” he said. “Party affairs must be conducted in line with the party’s constitution and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Mohammed assured that the committee was fully aligned with the law and understood the constitutional provisions governing the party.

The communiqué stressed that the PDP remains united under the “legitimate leadership” of Abdulrahman Mohammed and warned individuals whose actions were putting the party’s image into disrepute to desist immediately.

“It is important to inform the public that claims circulating in the media that the Turaki-led illegal executives have been accepted by INEC are false,” the communiqué stated. “We challenge Turaki to produce the code with which he uploaded his executives to the INEC portal.”

The faction announced the dissolution of all existing party structures in Borno, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta, Taraba, Kano and Lagos states.

It also ratified the dissolution of the affected state working committees while confirming the appointment of caretaker committees to oversee party activities in those states.

The National Caretaker Committee further announced the assignment of portfolios to some of its members to ensure effective discharge of duties.

Under the new arrangement, Adenike Ogunse was named national women leader; Deji Dohati, deputy national secretary; Olaka Ogunwu, national treasurer; Jungu Haruna Mohammed, national publicity secretary; and Ibrahim Bala-Aboki, national youth leader.

The committee also unveiled a new timetable for the conduct of state congresses beginning January 9, 2026, after which a national convention is expected to follow.

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