The future of the Peoples Democratic Party and efforts to stop major defections will be the main focus this week as the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee begins an important series of engagements with state chairmen, former governors, former ministers, lawmakers and other significant stakeholders.
A member of the NWC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment officially, said on Monday that the meetings were intended to stabilise the opposition party amid increasing internal rivalry.
Confirming the development in a statement on Monday, the National Organising Secretary, Theophilous Shan, said the NWC had arranged a schedule of engagements with party leaders nationwide.
PDP governors previously endorsed the Ibadan convention of November 16, which elected Turaki and other NWC members for a four-year tenure.
Nevertheless, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, along with Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, still maintain that they remain the acting National Chairman and National Secretary.
Although the governors coordinated a smooth transition from former National Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure expired on December 9, Wike’s faction, on Sunday, appointed Mohammed, Anyanwu and others into a 60-day caretaker committee.
Amid the uncertainty, the Turaki-led NWC will meet this week in Abuja with state chairmen, PDP caucuses in both chambers of the National Assembly, national ex officio members, and forums of former governors, former ministers and past NWC members.
According to the meeting timetable released by Shan, the NWC will meet on Wednesday, December 10, with state chairmen, members of the House of Representatives and national ex officio members.
The committee will also issue a Certificate of Return to the party’s candidate for the June 20, 2026, Ekiti governorship election, Dr Oluwole Oluyede.
Meetings with former PDP governors, former ministers and past NWC members are scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, while senators are due to meet with the NWC on Wednesday, December 17.
Shan said the engagements form part of the newly elected NWC’s efforts to rebuild the party after the disputed 2025 national convention in Ibadan.
An NWC source said Turaki would use the meetings to reassure stakeholders, prevent defections and outline strategies to reposition the party.
“It is a series of meetings with leaders at all levels. We want to highlight the progress made so far, share our plans and appeal to everyone to remain in the PDP. The leadership will also address actions taken against those undermining the party,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NWC has established the Osun State Governorship Appeal Panel to examine complaints arising from the PDP primary ahead of the 2026 election. The panel, chaired by Turaki, will sit on Thursday, December 11.
In a separate development, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, and the South-East PDP caucus leader, Idu Igariwey, said they would not attend Wednesday’s meeting.
Turaki had arranged the meeting at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, through a notice signed by Shan. But Chinda, who is aligned with Wike, said he did not receive any invitation.
“I saw no invitation,” he said.
Igariwey also responded, “Not yet, my brother,” when asked whether he had been invited.
However, the PDP caucus leader in the House, Fred Agbedi, confirmed he would be present, noting that members had been aware of the meeting since last week. Agbedi, who remained in the party despite Governor Douye Diri’s recent defection to the APC, said preparations were underway.
Also confirming his attendance, Mansur Soro, who represents Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, said the invitation “is open to all members.”
The party remains divided, with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed leading one faction while Wike leads the other. The disagreement intensified after the disputed Ibadan convention, which was supported by an Oyo State High Court ruling but twice halted by the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged breaches of the PDP constitution.
As both sides continue to claim control of the party’s leadership, the PDP national secretariat remains sealed by the police to prevent disorder.
As of the time of reporting, the Deputy National Secretary, Richard Ihediwa, and the National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, were not available for comment.
