By Akinwale Kasali

Following the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Court of Appeal Judgment that invalidated the Party’s Ibadan Convention and upheld the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary of the Party, Gbenga Hashim, former Presidential Candidate, has urged warring Parties to embrace dialogue.

He appealed to the PDP leadership to resolve the crisis rocking in the Party.

Hashim gave this following Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment.

According to him, the Court ruling has now pushed party leaders toward a negotiated settlement.

He further maintained that leaders from the contending sides had already agreed in principle to work towards common ground through ongoing talks and negotiations.

“This is a family quarrel that must now end at the Appeal Court. Leaders on both sides have agreed in principle to unite and harmonise positions in all the talks and negotiations we have heard,” he said.

He, also, expressed optimism that the reconciliation efforts would succeed, noting that Party members and many Nigerians are eager to see a united opposition.

“We trust that this unity would be achieved by the grace of God. Nigerians earnestly expect this and posterity demands it,” he added.

The PDP has, in recent months, been dealing with internal disagreements and legal battles among rival factions, a situation Party stakeholders say, must be resolved to restore cohesion and strengthen the party ahead of future political contests.

Since the 2023 General Elections, all PDP Governors, but two, have left the party, citing  irreconcilable crisis.

By Ayodele Oni 

As indications emerged about possible appeal against Monday’s judgement by the Court of Appeal, by a faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has spoken against the move.

He has appealed to all leaders and stakeholders within the PDP to bury the hatchet, settle for the Court of Appeal verdict, and transfer in direction of holding a contemporary nationwide conference that can adjust to all tips of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Saraki, in his response to Monday’s judgement, suggested that it was time for introspection and for them to see the Appeal Court resolution as an end to all litigations.

The former Senate President warned that feuding leaders mustn’t enable their ego and private variations to jeopardise the possibilities and way forward for the PDP.

“My personal place is that the Court of Appeal has dominated. However, with the revised timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it’s apparent that there isn’t a time to attend for the Supreme Court resolution.

“Otherwise, we’d not meet the deadlines for finishing the method of nominating candidates.

“Also, uncertainty will proceed to hold over the validity of the tickets issued to those nominated on the PDP platform. 

“If our motive is to see that we don’t jeopardise the possibilities of our quite a few members who wish to contest elections on our platform, then this consideration ought to be the precedence of all of us within the celebration.

“One of the important thing is to offer a platform for candidates searching to serve the individuals by contesting elections. 

“We mustn’t defeat this objective. It is for these causes that I imagine the one choice open to all of us is to finish all litigation and work with the preparations which might be on the bottom for holding a nationwide conference inside the INEC timetable.

“From the start, a few of us have warned and suggested concerning the risks of travelling this route. 

“We know that it’s going to solely imperil the celebration. However, since we’ve got discovered ourselves right here, our focus ought to be on learn how to get again on the trail of full restoration, stability, and progress.

“I do know that at this stage, egos have been bruised. However, the distinction between an extraordinary man and a statesman, between an individual and a patriot, between a follower and a frontrunner is the power to rise above the din and ignore private pursuits to serve the bigger frequent pursuits and public good. 

“Thus, some leaders of the celebration who didn’t get what they desired from the courts ought to now think about the larger curiosity of the PDP within the 2027 elections and past. 

“This is an extra noble, dignified, and accountable place to undertake than to embark on a journey that results in nowhere.

“There are many Nigerians within the grassroots who’ve been investing their time and resources in mobilising  as a result of they wish to contest elections on the PDP platform. 

“These are members who wish to contest elections into the Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, and the presidency.

“Feuding leaders mustn’t enable their ego and private variations to jeopardise, undermine, and defeat the aspirations of those sincere, devoted and dedicated  members by depriving them of the chance to topic themselves to the decision of the voters. 

“That is what these leaders will likely be doing if anyone continues with the litigation.

“The only viable option open to all of us is to sit down, discuss, and work towards holding an all-inclusive national convention at a time that will comply with INEC guidelines. 

“What should be paramount to all of us is to adopt a give-and-take attitude that will ensure we accommodate all interests in the election of officers at the national convention. 

“We should let the sleeping dog lie peacefully. There is really no time for continuous bickering and grandstanding.”

By Ayodele Oni

A near-end is imminent for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its two remaining governors are set to quit the party.

Reports reveal that Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and his Oyo counterpart, Seyi Makinde, have concluded plans to defect, before April, to another party.

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State had on Monday resigned his membership of the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Confirming this in a statement, the governor’s media aide, Nuhu Anka, said the defection followed his principal’s consultation with stakeholders in the state.

According to DAILY POST sources, Mohammed is heading to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while Makinde has concluded plans to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Since the 2023 elections, nine PDP governors have so far left the party, citing irreconcilable crisis.

They are Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori (APC, April 2025), Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno (APC, June 2025), Enugu’s Peter Mbah (APC, Oct 2025), Bayelsa’s Douye Diri (APC, Nov 2025), Rivers’ Siminalayi Fubara (APC, Dec 2025), Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang (APC, Jan 2026), Taraba’s Agbu Kefas (APC, Jan 2026), Adamawa’s Ahmadu Fintiri (APC, Jan 2026), and Osun’s Ademola Adeleke (Accord, Dec 2025). Zamfara’s Dauda Lawal is also set to join APC after Eid.

Additionally, 66 PDP federal lawmakers – 19 senators, 47 reps – have defected to APC since June 2023. The defections come ahead of INEC’s April 21 deadline for party register submission before primaries.

As nine governors exit and two more prepare to follow, the PDP’s once-mighty structure lies in ruins, leaving Nigeria’s political landscape transformed just months before the 2027 election cycle begins.

Governor Makinde had late last year met former vice president Atiku Abubakar in Minna, Niger state, fuelling speculation that he was lobbying to be his running mate, as he plans to contest for the presidency on the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

With the Court of Appeal judgement on Monday which nullified the party’s convention held in Ibadan last December, more top notchers of the party are expected to call it quits.

By Ayodele Oni

Aftermath of the Appeal Court judgement, nullifying last year’s convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo state, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to hold another convention before the end of this month.

He disclosed that the PDP leadership is working towards organising a fresh national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2026, where new national officers would be elected in accordance with the law and the party’s constitution.

Wike stated that the convention would be held at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, adding that arrangements had already been concluded for the exercise.

“We have already established the National Caretaker Committee. When the tenure of the National Working Committee expired, we said the law does not allow for a vacuum.

“The caretaker committee was recognised by the Federal High Court to run the party until new officers are elected,” he said.

Wike, also, advised that the judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming the nullification of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan provides an opportunity for the party to rebuild and restore unity among its members.

Wike, who spoke with Journalists in Abuja on Monday, maintained that the ruling confirmed that the convention conducted by the PDP in November 2025 could not stand because the party failed to comply with statutory provisions guiding such exercises.

According to him, the court’s decision reaffirmed the need for political parties to strictly adhere to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, as well as their internal rules and guidelines.

“When you do not comply with what the law says, it cannot stand. It does not matter who is chairman or who is not chairman. What matters is compliance with the law,” Wike said.

The minister explained that the court established that necessary procedures, including the conduct of valid congresses in some states and proper notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were not followed before the convention was held.

He added that once such legal requirements are ignored, the matter goes beyond internal party affairs and becomes an issue of compliance with the law.

Wike described the development as a significant moment for the party, saying it reaffirmed the supremacy of due process and the rule of law.

“Today is one of my happiest days because, as a party that claims to uphold democratic principles, we must not condone impunity. We must follow due process and allow the rule of law to prevail,” he said.

Wike recalled that he had earlier warned that steps taken in violation of the law would eventually be set aside by the courts.

“You cannot rely on money or power and assume that because you are a governor or a powerful figure you can do anything. I thank God that the law has spoken.”

The FCT minister urged members of the PDP to use the judgment as an opportunity to rebuild unity within the party rather than prolong internal disputes through legal battles.

“For me, it is an opportunity for the party to come back together. We have fought enough. It is time to drop personal interests and see how we can move the party forward.”

Wike stressed the need for the PDP to remain strong as a credible opposition party in the country.

“The PDP remains the only strong opposition party we have. What we should be doing now is to put our house in order so that the party can continue to play its role effectively,” he said.

He further explained that with the court affirming the invalidity of the Ibadan convention, the leadership structure that emerged from the exercise could no longer be recognised.

According to him, the party had already constituted a caretaker arrangement to manage its affairs pending the conduct of a valid national convention.

The Court of Appeal had earlier upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court restraining INEC from recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, ruling that the party failed to comply with legal requirements before conducting the exercise.