Internal PDP turmoil intensifies as Wike-supported Board of Trustees clashes with Wabara, throwing weight behind Mohammed-Anyanwu leadership.

The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party has intensified, with a faction of the Board of Trustees invoking the Supreme Court's ruling from Thursday to legitimize the Mohammed–Anyanwu National Working Committee as the party's authentic leadership.

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This development has sparked a dispute over vastly differing interpretations of the Supreme Court judgment, with rival groups utilizing the same verdict to bolster their competing claims to control, thereby further fragmenting the party's top hierarchy.

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A statement issued by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the factional Chairman of the BoT aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, outlined the position of the BoT, which acknowledged the ruling and its implications.

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The BoT emphasized that the apex court's judgment reaffirmed earlier decisions that nullified the Ibadan convention, stating that "the judgment of the Supreme Court simply affirms the earlier decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal nullifying the purported National Convention of the Party held on the 15th and 16th of November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State."

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The BoT insisted that the ruling's implications are clear and unambiguous, leaving no room for alternative interpretations, and consequently, "the said Ibadan Convention stands nullified, and any structure emanating therefrom has no legal foundation," according to Senator Ohuabunwa.

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Based on this stance, the faction reaffirmed its support for the Mohammed–Anyanwu leadership, with Senator Ohuabunwa stating that "the leadership structure of the Party under Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as National Secretary remains the valid and stabilizing authority to guide the affairs of the Party at the national level."

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In a starkly contrasting interpretation, the BoT led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara argued that the same judgment effectively dismantled all existing leadership structures, creating a vacuum that places responsibility for the party's direction on the BoT.

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Wabara contended that the nullification of the Ibadan convention "directly places the statutory onus of leadership… on the Board of Trustees," and as a result, the BoT has assumed control to prevent a breakdown at the national level, stating "we have assumed control to ensure that there is no leadership vacuum at the national level."

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The clash between the two factions highlights a central fault line, with one camp claiming restoration of its leadership and the other insisting that the ruling cancels all factions and hands temporary authority to the BoT.

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Despite asserting control, the Wike-aligned faction acknowledged internal disquiet and called for reconciliation, with Senator Ohuabunwa advising the National Working Committee to "immediately constitute a National Reconciliation Committee to reach out to all aggrieved members of the party across the country."

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Senator Ohuabunwa urged party members to remain united despite the crisis, emphasizing that "this is a moment for discipline, loyalty, and collective commitment to the ideals and future of the party," and adding that the PDP remains resilient and committed to its mission of providing credible leadership to Nigeria.