The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following the party’s national convention held in Abuja.
The electoral body reflected the development on its official website on Monday, publishing an updated list of the opposition party’s national leadership. The list includes Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, alongside other members of the newly constituted NWC.
INEC recognised PDP leadership as seen on INEC website
Both Mohammed and Anyanwu emerged during the PDP National Convention held on Sunday night at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The convention, which attracted about 2,500 delegates from across the country, produced members of the party’s national leadership through a consensus arrangement after the dissolution of the National Caretaker Working Committee.
INEC’s recognition of the leadership marks a significant development in the prolonged leadership crisis that has divided the PDP into rival factions for several months.
The convention installed a full leadership structure in line with the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), which provides for a 19-member National Working Committee responsible for managing the party’s affairs at the national level.
According to the list published by INEC, Abdulrahman Mohammed was elected National Chairman. Aaron Chukwuemeka emerged as Deputy National Chairman (South), while Yusufu Akirikwen (SAN) became Deputy National Chairman (North).
Samuel Anyanwu was confirmed as National Secretary, with Kolawale Olabisi elected as Deputy National Secretary.
Other officers include Odeyemi Oladiran as National Treasurer and Lado Marke as Deputy National Treasurer. Eyim Henry emerged as National Financial Secretary, while Grema Kyari serves as Deputy National Financial Secretary.
Umar Bature was elected National Organising Secretary, with Efere Augustine as Deputy National Organising Secretary. Jungudo Mohammed and Egwu Chidiebere were chosen as National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Publicity Secretary respectively.
The convention also produced Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) as National Legal Adviser and Aloysius Uba as Deputy National Legal Adviser. Osuoha Donatus was elected National Auditor, while Adaba Seri Yatu serves as Deputy National Auditor.
Other officers include Prof. Ogunshe Adedayo as National Women Leader and Hauwa Shinge as Deputy National Women Leader, while Ibrahim Aboki emerged as National Youth Leader with Momoh Bashir as Deputy National Youth Leader.
Despite the installation of the new leadership, the convention exposed deep divisions within the PDP as loyalists of the rival faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), boycotted the gathering, describing it as illegitimate.
Delegates from several states nevertheless attended the Abuja convention, including representatives from Kebbi, Ekiti, Bauchi, Benue and Oyo states, who participated in affirming the consensus candidates.
In Ogun State, the PDP Secretary, Dr Sunday Solarin, confirmed that the party remained divided, with some members attending the convention while others stayed away in support of the Turaki-led faction.
“Some members, believing Wike controls the party, have gone to Abuja for the convention. Others, like myself, who support the Turaki-led side, have stayed away,” Solarin said.
He added that reconciliation efforts were still ongoing despite the internal disagreements.
In Ekiti State, the PDP bloc led by former governor Ayo Fayose also participated in the convention. The state chairman of the bloc, Lanre Omolase, said the gathering represented the authentic PDP.
“I am already at the venue of the convention in Abuja. We are here, the convention is holding. This is where the PDP is,” he said.
Delegates from Benue State, led by former governor Samuel Ortom, also attended the convention, with the party’s media consultant in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, confirming their participation.
Similarly, the Kebbi State chapter of the PDP endorsed the convention. The state secretary, Abubakar Bawa Kalgo, said all delegates from the state were mobilised and fully participated in the two-day exercise.
However, opposition to the convention persisted in some quarters. The Edo State chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, described the gathering as illegal, arguing that a pending case before the Supreme Court made the exercise premature.
He urged INEC to carefully monitor those presented as delegates, insisting that the list used for the convention might not correspond with the commission’s records.
“There is a case before the Supreme Court that is yet to be determined. Holding a convention now amounts to an affront to the law,” Aziegbemi said.
In Sokoto State, the crisis deepened further as a faction led by Abubakar Danmafara rejected the state leadership’s decision to boycott the convention and instead participated in the Abuja gathering.
Amid the tensions, several party leaders used the convention to call for reconciliation and unity.
Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, described reconciliation as essential for the survival of the party and urged members to close ranks and rebuild trust.
The newly elected National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, said the convention represented a fresh beginning for the PDP after years of internal disputes.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki also appealed to aggrieved members to join the process, noting that the presence of INEC at the convention affirmed the legitimacy of the exercise.
Wike, in his remarks, commended party members for remaining loyal despite the prolonged crisis and urged them to work collectively to rebuild the PDP.
The convention comes against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership crisis that split the PDP into two rival factions following competing conventions held by opposing blocs.
However, with INEC now recognising the Wike-backed leadership, the faction appears to have consolidated its position within the party’s national structure even as reconciliation talks continue among party stakeholders ahead of future elections.