iDeemlawfulThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once a major force in Nigerian politics, has been struggling with internal crises since the 2023 elections. Different groups within the party are pushing their own interests, making it hard for the PDP to stay united.
When the party announced that the 2027 presidential ticket would go to the Southern region in August 2025, many members felt hopeful that the PDP could challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But, as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently said, some people within the party are still working to weaken it from the inside.
Currently, the PDP is split into two major factions: one aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and the other with Umar Damagun, who retains the backing of the party’s Board of Trustees. These divisions have contributed to recent defections and growing tensions ahead of the national convention.
These divisions have led to defections and disagreements, especially with the national convention coming up.
The PDP convention is scheduled to be held in Ibadan from November 15 to 16, with the aim of strategising for the 2027 elections. However, some top leaders, including Samuel Anyanwu and Bukola Saraki, have decided to boycott the event, while others insist it must go on despite ongoing court disputes.
With these key leaders absent, questions remain about the party’s unity and whether it can settle its differences. Here’s a look at the eight PDP leaders boycotting the 2025 Ibadan convention and what their absence could mean for the party.
- Nyesom Wike
The current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers state is one of the top PDP members who won’t be attending the PDP convention.
On November 1, he celebrated a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja halting the PD National Convention, describing it as a “victory against impunity” within the party.
“We are happy that we have fought impunity, but we are not happy with what is going on,” the minister said. “The essence of opposition is to wrestle power from the ruling party. No opposition party carries on with impunity. We have to put our house together and follow due process,” Wike said at a meeting after the verdict with PDP stakeholders and former governors loyal to him.
He is accused of leading a faction of renegade PDP leaders working in concert with the ruling APC to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His close alliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 2023 and open defiance of the PDP national leadership have further strained relations between him and party loyalists.
Wike, who played a major role in the PDP’s 2023 presidential election crisis as leader of the so-called G5 governors, has repeatedly clashed with the party’s national leadership over control and direction.
His move against the PDP’s national convention is seen by many as part of a calculated effort to keep the party divided and politically diminished before 2027.
While Wike insists his actions are driven by a desire to restore “order and legality” within the PDP, critics argue that his alliance with the APC-led federal government and his public criticism of his own party suggest otherwise.
- Bukola Saraki
Also, another top chieftain that might not attend the Ibadan convention is Bukola Saraki, ex-Senate President and former governor of Kwara state.
On Wednesday, he called on the PDP to suspend its planned national convention, warning that proceeding under the current conditions would only deepen the party’s crisis and expose its outcome to legal disputes.
He spoke shortly after meeting with members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee, led by Hassan Adamu.
The former Senate president advised the leadership loyal to the National Chairman, Umar Damagun, to suspend the convention scheduled for 15 and 16 November in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, arguing that there are conflicting court orders that could invalidate the process and further destabilise the party.
“In summary, I expressed deep regret that, despite the selfless and arduous efforts by some of us, the Convention has become mired in extensive controversy, both political and legal. This does not bode well for not only our party, but for Nigeria’s democracy in general.
“I made it clear to the BOT team that political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts. Affairs of political parties are best resolved amicably with all sides seated round the table. Legal battles will only continue to cause friction.
“As it stands, the fact is that there are conflicting court orders in relation to the validity of the scheduled convention. As a result, there is no assurance as to whether the conduct and outcome of the convention will stand,” he said.
- Sule Lamido
The former governor of Jigawa State might also boycott the PDP convention in Ibadan.
Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, dragged the party to court before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly denying him the opportunity to purchase the chairmanship nomination form to enable him to participate in the convention.
Peter Lifu, presiding judge, ruled in his favour, and restrained the party from conducting its national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan.
Lifu also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP without including the plaintiff as a contestant.
- Sim Fubara
There are also strong indications that the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Rivers State chapter will boycott the PDP convention.
In a notice, the party expressed serious regret and deep concern over the decision of the National Executive Committee and the Organizing Committee to shut out both Rivers state Governor and the entire party leadership from the preparations for the Convention.
“That there was no proper communication channel between the National leadership of the party and our leader, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers state, which has consequently left us incommunicado.
“We were neither consulted, nor was approval sought or obtained before our names and photographs appeared in the brochure of the proposed Ibadan National Convention of the party.
“In view of the above, we therefore unanimously resolved not to participate in the forthcoming National Convention scheduled to be held on the 15th and 16th of November, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo state,” the notice read.
- Samuel Anyawu
PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, won’t be attending the convention as well. He is a top member of the faction loyal to Wike.
His position has been one of the major internal crises in the party. The leadership crisis over the national secretary position dates back to 2023, when Anyanwu emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Imo State. His candidacy generated internal debate over whether he could retain his role as national secretary while running for office.
While Anyanwu insisted on retaining his position as national secretary despite contesting for office, the South-east chapter of the party and some members of the NWC backed Mr Udeh-Okoye as his replacement.
In December 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that Anyanwu had vacated his seat upon picking the governorship ticket, declaring Ude-Okoye the rightful national secretary.
However, Anyanwu appealed the decision at the Supreme Court and filed a motion for a stay of execution.
Amid the crisis, the PDP appointed Sentonji Koshoedo as acting national secretary to prevent a leadership vacuum and manage the controversy. Nevertheless, the internal disagreement remained unresolved, affecting the party’s compliance with INEC regulations requiring a co-signed NEC notice.
In June 2025, the National Working Committee (NEC) of the Party affirmed Anyanwu as the national secretary, ending months of internal conflict that threatened the stability of the party.
However, in November, the party’s NEC suspended the Anyawu alongside National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature, for one month over alleged anti-party activities.
The suspension came after a court ruling that halted the party’s planned national convention.
- Samuel Ortom
Former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, won’t be attending the convention as well.
A member of the former G5 governors seems to be in the faction of Wike’s loyalists.
He recently blamed the lack of cohesion in the management of the PDP’s internal affairs for the latest crisis rocking the party.
Ortom, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, said he had previously met with PDP leaders and offered constructive advice on resolving disagreements in a manner that would produce a win-win outcome, but regretted that his counsel was ignored.
According to him, the Damagum-led leadership failed to rise above personal interests and unite the party when the opportunity existed.
- Okezie Ikpeazu
Former Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, won’t be attending the convention too.
Like Ortom, he was a member of the former G-5. He attended the meeting convened by Wike, which celebrated the court order halting the PDP convention.
- Godwin Obaseki
There are also no indications that Godwin Obaseki, former governor of Edo State, will attend the PDP national convention in Ibadan.
Since leaving office in November 2024, Obaseki has largely stayed out of the public eye.
While his successor, Monday Okpebholo, suggested that he is “on the run,” the Edo State PDP chapter dismissed the claim, saying the former governor is simply taking time to “give space and prove his worth to the people of the state.”
The PDP is holding its convention to elect a National Chairman and other national executives. The results are expected to help the party reorganize and plan ahead for the 2027 elections. However, the absence of top chieftains, due to conflicting court rulings on the convention’s legality, could spark the beginning of a deeper internal crisis within the party.
