The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its most severe internal crisis in recent years as the National Working Committee led by Umar Damagun has chosen to ignore both a court order and crucial reconciliation advice from the party's Board of Trustees.
Court Order Halts Planned Convention
Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a final order on Friday, November 15, 2025, explicitly stopping the PDP from proceeding with its national convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State. The convention was planned for November 15-16, 2025, with the primary purpose of electing new national officers for the party.
The court ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who had been denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form for the national chairmanship position. Justice Lifu ruled that the PDP must comply with its own constitution and guidelines before proceeding with any convention activities.
The judge went further to prohibit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or providing any assistance to the Ibadan convention until Lamido is allowed to participate fully in the process. The court emphasized that political parties must adhere strictly to their internal rules and regulations.
Board of Trustees Reconciliation Report Ignored
Compounding the legal challenges, the Damagun-led NWC also disregarded a comprehensive reconciliation report from the BoT Reconciliation Committee. The report, submitted on Thursday, November 14, 2025, contained critical recommendations aimed at preventing the party's total collapse.
The six-member reconciliation panel, chaired by Ambassador Hassan Adamu and representing all six geopolitical zones, had been inaugurated on November 5, 2025. After extensive consultations with aggrieved power blocs, the committee identified several fundamental issues plaguing the party.
Key recommendations included the immediate lifting of suspensions on National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN). The report also advised the party to revert to status quo ante, establish an all-inclusive caretaker committee, and restore the BoT to its constitutional role as an impartial arbiter.
The committee's investigation revealed that factional distrust, constitutional violations, unilateral decisions, and 2027 succession intrigues were at the heart of the party's crisis. They warned that these issues had "festered for too long" and required immediate attention.
Rivers State Chapter Boycotts Convention
In a significant development, the Rivers State Chapter of the PDP announced its decision to boycott the national convention. The chapter expressed dissatisfaction with the national leadership, citing poor communication channels and the ongoing leadership crisis.
Several state executives and local council party chairmen signed a disclaimer stating that the party had been polarized due to the current leadership problems. They also expressed outrage that their names and photographs had been included in the convention brochure without their consent.
The Rivers State PDP affirmed its loyalty to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, recognizing him as their leader in the state, while simultaneously rejecting participation in the Ibadan convention.
Factional Leaders Condemn NWC Actions
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, factional leaders including George Turna (PDP South-South Zonal Secretary), Austin Nwachukwu (PDP Chairman, Imo State), and Amah Abraham (PDP Chairman, Abia State) condemned the Damagun bloc's actions.
Turna accused the Damagun faction of "undemocratic practices" that had forced several state leaders to seek judicial intervention. He argued that the party had completely veered off its constitutional compass in the lead-up to the planned convention.
"Instead of implementing these recommendations, they are insisting on proceeding. Nigerians must now see clearly who is on the side of law and who is on the side of impunity," Turna stated during the press conference.
Despite the mounting legal and internal pressure, the Damagun-led NWC, after a strategic meeting involving PDP governors, the BoT, and other stakeholders in Abuja, reaffirmed that the national convention would proceed as planned. The Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, announced this decision, declaring that the party remained united on the convention.
The deepening crisis threatens to fracture Nigeria's main opposition party at a critical juncture in the country's political landscape, with potential implications for the 2027 general elections.
