Micah Jonah
March 16, 2026
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has elected party executives in Bayelsa, Ekiti, and Oyo states ahead of the national convention scheduled for 28 March in Abuja. The move follows an Appeal Court judgment invalidating the November 2025 convention in Ibadan that produced Tanimu Turaki as PDP national chairman.
In Bayelsa, Alabh Turnah was elected state chairman through consensus, alongside a 20-member State Working Committee, during a congress held at the newly inaugurated PDP secretariat in Yenagoa. Turnah pledged dedication to reclaiming governance in the state and affirmed that PDP remains the majority party locally.
In Ekiti, Lanre Omolase emerged as state chairman for the Wike-backed faction, promising to rebuild and reposition PDP for success in upcoming elections. The inauguration in Ado Ekiti was attended by Bisi Kolawole, a member of the PDP National Caretaker Working Committee, who emphasized unity, loyalty, and internal discipline to strengthen the party nationwide.
Oyo State elected Abdulrahman Akinoso, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, as state chairman during the state congress at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan. INEC officials monitored the process. Akinoso highlighted that the party’s immediate focus is preparation for the 2027 general elections, urging members to set aside internal differences and strengthen the party through unity and membership mobilisation.
The Turaki-led national leadership of the PDP expressed concern over the faction’s actions, describing the dissolution of state executives in Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo as illegal and potentially harmful to reconciliation efforts. Spokesperson Ini Ememobong called on party officers and members to disregard the move and continue performing lawful duties.
The Wike-backed faction’s activities demonstrate the ongoing intra-party contest within PDP as it positions itself for the 2027 electoral cycle.
