The members of the reconciliation committee from the camps of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Peoples Democratic Party governors are expected to meet on Monday as the joint panel prepares to harmonise conditions for resolving the lingering crisis within the party.

A high-ranking PDP leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed this to Sunday PUNCH.

Similarly, the governors’ camp, Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee and the National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the reconciliation panel would meet to address the issues.

The National Secretary of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, expressed confidence that the party would soon recover from its internal challenges.

Crisis points

The PDP governors had earlier backed the Ibadan convention held on November 15, which produced Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure.

They also supervised the transfer of leadership from former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure expired on December 9.

However, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, constituted a 13-member Caretaker Committee on December 8, naming Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, among others, with a 60-day mandate.

Efforts by both the Wike-aligned faction and the governors’ camp to hold separate meetings at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, turned chaotic, leading to disorder and physical clashes.

Following the incident, the Nigeria Police Force sealed the secretariat, which has remained shut since then.

Both groups later approached the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking recognition, but the commission declined to acknowledge either faction, a development that led to a series of legal battles as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensified.

On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard the consolidated suits relating to the PDP leadership crisis and delivered its judgment on March 9.

In a ruling delivered by a panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the appellate court affirmed the earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which held that the processes that produced the November 15–16 Ibadan National Convention, backed by the governors, contravened the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Constitution.

As a result, the court nullified the outcome of the convention, declaring the election of Turaki and other members of the NWC invalid.

Justice Biobele Georgewill, who led a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, granted all parties involved in the PDP elective convention dispute permission to pursue an out-of-court settlement.

The case was consequently adjourned sine die after counsel to both sides agreed to proceed with the reconciliation process.

Reconciliation moves

Against this backdrop, the governors’ camp, alongside the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees and the Wike-aligned Caretaker Committee, signalled their readiness for genuine reconciliation.

A source also disclosed that the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who had earlier opposed the reconciliation move, is now open to the process.

According to the source, a committee comprising members and legal representatives from both camps held a meeting on Friday.

The source stated, “They had their first meeting on Friday. You know, the Bauchi State Governor, who earlier declined the idea of reconciliation with the Wike group, is now open to reconciliation. As a matter of fact, he has held discussions and had phone conversations with stakeholders from both camps.

“Both camps have nominated members of the reconciliation committee—about six representatives from each side, including legal practitioners. They held a meeting on Friday, which centred on identifying areas and issues for reconciliation. During the meeting, they agreed that members of both factions should return to their respective groups to harmonise the issues within their camps.

“They are expected to itemise their concerns and conditions and bring them forward so that the entire committee can review and harmonise them. The idea is for each representative to return to their caucus or camp, listen to their members, identify their conditions, and list those that are realistic and workable.”

Another source disclosed that no decision had yet been made on whether the process would be resolved through a convention or an interim caretaker committee.

He stated, “Both camps are expected to meet again on Monday to review all the conditions and try as much as possible to reach a common ground and harmonise them, with the aim of resolving the crisis as soon as possible. That is the stage we are at now. Hopefully, by Monday, the committee will meet again to harmonise the conditions, after which there may be a clearer direction for everyone.

“For now, no decision has not been made on who will become chairman or whether the party will proceed with a convention or set up a caretaker committee. While some stakeholders are pushing for a convention, others are advocating an interim caretaker committee. All these issues are expected to become clearer by Monday or as soon as the committee reviews and harmonises the conditions submitted by both camps.”

Party survival paramount – Turaki faction

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Turaki-led faction, Fasiu Bakene, confirmed the development to Sunday PUNCH, saying the move followed recent court rulings which left the party without a clear national leadership structure.

Bakene explained that the decision to pursue reconciliation was influenced by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which did not recognise the leadership claims of either faction in the crisis.

He noted that while the court upheld the suspension of some members of the faction loyal to Wike, including the party’s National Secretary, Anyanwu, it also invalidated the Ibadan convention that produced the NWC.

“The judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja did not give leadership to either side. While it upheld the suspension of Anyanwu, Ajibade and others from the Wike side, it also invalidated the Ibadan convention which produced the NWC.

“So, if the court said the convention is invalidated, it means there is no NWC and no caretaker committee. The only structure that remains in existence now is the Board of Trustees,” he said.

According to him, the BoT opted for reconciliation after being informed during its meeting that lawyers representing both factions had indicated before the Court of Appeal in Ibadan that efforts were underway to reach an out-of-court settlement.

“Based on that, the BoT decided to encourage reconciliation for the sake of the majority of our supporters and members who are interested in elective positions ahead of the 2027 election,” Bakene said.

He noted that the reconciliation committee would comprise representatives from both factions to ensure fairness in the process.

Bakene expressed doubts about the possibility of the proposed convention being pushed by the Wike camp if reconciliation talks succeed.

“If we are going into reconciliation, that should be one of the issues on the table. We will also make it clear that we are proceeding to the Supreme Court, and all of these matters will be sorted out,” he added.

He said a possible outcome of the reconciliation could be the establishment of a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party ahead of the next general elections.

“We should reduce the cost of organising another convention and have a caretaker committee that will run the affairs of the party, at least for the purpose of presenting candidates for the 2027 elections,” he said.

Bakene stressed that the overriding concern for both sides should be the survival of the party.

Ememobong also confirmed that the reconciliation process was underway, adding that the representatives of both camps were conscious of time.

He stated, “Well, our position is simple. At a time when reconciliation is being explored, the status quo should be maintained. Any vexatious act may undermine the peace process, which is why we issued the statement to discountenance any such move. Let’s hope that neither side takes any action that could derail the process.

“We are hopeful that the exercise will yield fruitful results. We are optimistic that peace will return to the PDP and that the party will field candidates for the 2027 election.”

Earlier, Ememobong, in a statement on Saturday, cautioned that the alleged dissolution of the State Executive Committees in Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo States by Wike’s faction could hinder the reconciliation process.

The statement read, “This dissolution, which is illegal and unwarranted, is an affront to the proposed reconciliation for which talks are underway. This further attempt to deepen divisions at the state and other levels is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

“We urge the state chapters, all officers of the party at the local government and ward levels, and indeed the public, to discountenance the said notice and continue to exercise their lawful duties.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our desire for peace must be understood in the context of the need for the salvation of the party for the purpose of the forthcoming elections, and not misconstrued otherwise.”

On his part, the National Secretary of the Wike-backed Caretaker Committee, also expressed optimism that the crisis would soon be resolved, insisting that the PDP would emerge stronger.

Wike’s camp sets conditions

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Anyanwu said the party was already moving past the internal divisions, stressing that the Turaki group could no longer be regarded as a separate faction.

Anyanwu, however, insisted that there was no going back on the planned national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30.

“We have come to the conclusion that the so-called Turaki-led faction is no longer a faction. We only have one PDP now, under the leadership of the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee.

“By April 2, we are going to have a new National Working Committee of the party and we will continue from where we stopped.

“We are moving ahead with our convention. Preparations are already going on for that and the convention will take place on the 29th and 30th of April,” he stated.

Anyanwu, however, acknowledged ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party, noting that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had initiated moves to bridge the divide.

He said, “Governor Makinde himself has reached out for reconciliation, but like our leader said, we want a sincere and honest reconciliation. In politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy; it is all about interest.”

He noted that despite the disagreements, members of the party remained united by a common goal.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, said the camp loyal to Wike remained open to reconciliation but insisted that the party’s planned convention would proceed as scheduled.

According to him, Wike made it clear that the reconciliation must not affect the party’s planned convention and the existing caretaker leadership.

“He said the convention date is sacrosanct and cannot be changed, and that the members of the National Caretaker Committee have come to stay. If the convention is coming up next week or so, there is no point changing any caretaker now,” he said.

Bisi added that activities leading to the convention were already underway in several states across the country.

“As of today, congresses are ongoing in almost 15 states of the country, including Oyo State. So we cannot halt any ongoing congresses or the convention coming up,” he stated.

He maintained that the camp remained open to dialogue if the opposing group was genuinely interested in resolving the crisis.

“If they want to come for reconciliation, they can come. We are not quarrelling with anybody; our doors are open. If they come, we will sit down and discuss the positions in the National Working Committee. If their argument is strong, why not? Like Wike said, we are operating from a position of strength,” Bisi added.

Wike, a party betrayer – PDP legal adviser

Meanwhile, the North Central Zonal Legal Adviser of the PDP, Abubakar Issa, has criticised moves by some party leaders to reconcile with Wike’s camp, describing his support for President Bola Tinubu as a betrayal of the party.

Issa, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, questioned the basis for the proposed reconciliation, particularly the move by a group aligned with Makinde to engage Wike and his supporters amid the lingering internal crisis within the party.

According to him, it is difficult to justify negotiations with a party member who openly supported the presidential candidate of a rival party during the last general election.

“But from my own perspective, the question is: on what basis will the PDP meet with Wike? His position is very clear,” Issa said.

“What he is doing is even a crime against the party. You cannot remain a member of the PDP and openly campaign for another candidate. That is not done anywhere in the world.”

The PDP chieftain said any attempt to reconcile without clearly addressing the issue could undermine the party’s internal discipline and credibility.

“So, how do you now sit down to settle with such a person? On what terms? Does it mean that all of us in the PDP must now accept working for Tinubu? That is not possible.

“Within the next few days, we will see the position the party eventually adopts. But personally, I believe many party members will disagree with him. There is no way the PDP can work for the APC,” he added. (Sunday PUNCH)

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