Wabara-led BoT assumes control of PDP, mulls caretaker committee

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, has assumed control of the party’s national leadership.

The BOT directed staff to resume at the party secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Wabara, in a statement on Thursday, said that pursuant to the express and unambiguous provision of Section 32(5) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the Board of Trustees will summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting for the formation of a caretaker committee following the Supreme Court judgment.

In two split decisions of 3–2, the Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led leadership backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

In the majority judgment, the apex court held that the convention was conducted in breach of existing court orders restraining the PDP from proceeding with the exercise unless certain conditions were met.

The court further criticised the PDP for going ahead with the November 15 and 16 convention despite clear judicial directives requiring compliance with specified conditions before it could be held.

Following the ruling, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed claimed victory, while the Makinde camp argued that the court’s upholding of the Court of Appeal’s suspension of Ajibade, Anyanwu and others effectively leaves the PDP without a clearly defined leadership structure.

“To this end, we are certain that the existing organs of the party will take the necessary steps to salvage the party and confer leadership on it going forward.

“This leads the vehicle of our party towards a dangerous bend, which, if not carefully navigated, may not only affect the party but also multi-party democracy in our country,” the Makinde-backed Turaki camp stated.

Reacting, the BoT said it has immediately assumed leadership of the PDP as a constitutional step to promote reconciliation, stabilise the party, and restore its political strength.

The statement read, “It is with the utmost sense of duty and responsibility that the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party assumes leadership of our great party today, Thursday, 30th April, 2026, pursuant to the empowering provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017). This constitutional intervention of the BoT is to ensure that there is no leadership vacuum at the national level of our party following the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“Sadly, the Supreme Court today delivered an unpleasant judgment against our party in which it pronounced the invalidation of the 15th to 16th November 2025 National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of our party.

“While the Supreme Court invalidated the Ibadan Convention, it also, in a unanimous decision of the five Justices on the panel, upheld the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade as National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and National Legal Adviser, respectively, from the party.

“The implication of today’s judgment by the Supreme Court is that all actions taken by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, the composition of the National Caretaker Working Committee, and the conduct and outcome of the March 29th, 2026 Convention in Abuja, are illegal, null, and ab initio void.”

Wabara explained that the invalidation of both the Mohammed-led and Turaki-led working committees places the responsibility of leadership on the BoT as the party’s second-highest organ, in line with Section 32(5) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

It continued, “Against this backdrop, the BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility of the national working leadership of the PDP as an immediate constitutional remedial step to foster genuine reconciliation, salvage, stabilise and return the party to good political health.

“In light of the foregoing, an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee, pursuant to the provisions of Section 31 of the Constitution of the PDP, will be summoned to, among other things, appoint an Interim National Working Committee to take charge of the National Secretariat of our party and pilot the affairs of the party at the national level so as to meet all the timelines in the Electoral Act, 2026, and ensure that the PDP fields candidates and also emerges victorious in all elective positions in the 2027 general elections.

“Consequently, all staff of the PDP are hereby directed to resume at the National Secretariat of the party under the leadership of the BoT ahead of the appointment of the Interim National Working Committee.

“The BoT commends the courage, effort, and resilience of our governors, Governor Bala Mohammed and Governor Seyi Makinde, the National Assembly caucus, the National Ex-Officio members, the Forum of PDP State Chairmen and State chapters, the Youth and Women Wings, and other organs and bodies in the PDP for standing strong for the party at this trying time.”

BoT called on all party leaders and members to drop personal and group interests and unite as one family in the interest of the party, democracy, and the well-being of millions of Nigerians who depend on the PDP.

“The PDP has suffered enough; the painful victims of this unfortunate episode are the Nigerian people. The time has therefore come for us to make sacrifices, sheathe our swords, and embrace genuine reconciliation for lasting peace and chart a new course for our party,” it added.