The two warring factions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are struggling to find a common ground for reconciliation as preparations for the 2027 elections get underway.

The Nyesom Wike backed faction, which is still basking in the euphoria of its victory at the Court of Appeal Abuja, is pressing ahead with its state congresses today.

It is yet to receive the proposal for reconciliation promised by the Tanimu Turaki faction.

The Wike faction yesterday ruled out verbal proposals from the other side. It said the proposals must be in writing.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is the leading voice for reconciliation by the two factions, is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj but has not given up on getting the factions to the negotiation table, The Nation gathered yesterday.

On Monday, the appellate court upheld two judgments of the Federal High Court that voided the November 2025 national convention in Ibadan which produced the Turaki-led national executive committee of the party.

It also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the convention.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Jungudu Haruna Mohammed, told The Nation yesterday that his side did not expect the Turaki led National Working Committee to expect them to give way for a fresh Caretaker Committee or shift the national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30.

“As we have said before, the National Caretaker Committee is open for any form of reconciliation. However, considering the fact that we are at an advantaged position, we are waiting for them to come up with their own proposal,” Mohammed said on the phone.

He added: “When they do that, then we will be able to say this is the direction we are heading and what we are considering.

“It is more like they are the ones coming to us. But for us, we are going ahead with our normal activities irrespective of the feelings of other members of the party.

“As for the reconciliation, we are ready and we are waiting for them to come up with their proposal in writing. It will no longer be a verbal discussion so that nobody will be quoted out of context.

“We will look at their proposal and then know where to go.

“But in the reconciliation process, there are two no-go areas. One is the contemplation that a new Caretaker Committee will be formed. That is a no go area.

“Second is the issue of the date for the national convention scheduled for 29th and 30th March. That date is sacrosanct and there is no contemplation about changing that date.

“We don’t expect them to see these two areas as areas where we will shift ground. Anyone who wishes to participate in the convention is welcomed and free to participate. They will be accommodated.

“That is the position of NEC and the Minister (FCT Minister Nyesom Wike) has spoken about it and it is the position of all members of NEC and majority of loyal party members.

“They said they would send a 10-man committee to interface with us. We don’t know when they will reach out to us or whether they have reached out to our national leader this morning (yesterday).

“But we are going ahead with our activities so that we don’t get caught up with time, because as you know, time is not on our side.

“So we urge them to quickly come up with whatever proposals they have to resolve everything.

“But with or without that, we are going ahead with our activities. Tomorrow (Saturday), we will hold state congresses across the country. That is our position.”

Jungudo Mohammed said the genuineness of his council’s reconciliation was partly reflected in its long wait for the other side’s nominees to constitute part of the committee that would conduct the national convention.

National Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said both parties were conscious of the pressure imposed on them by the INEC timetable and schedule of activities for the general elections.

He told The Nation that “the negotiation teams from both ends will meet and smoothen out the terms of the settlement within the least possible time.”

Continuing, he said: “We are conscious of the pressure of time which the INEC timetable imposes on us.

“The outcome will be a result of understanding and not concession, because concession has the undertone of loss, while understanding shows empathy and agreement.

“The underpinning philosophy is to save the party from going into extinction and to ensure that the party is strengthened to serve as a viable opposition party to help democratic consolidation.”

Many leaders of the party had proposed reconciliation between the warring parties, while leaders like the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Turaki led group, Senator Aldophus Wabara, are certain the party will not die.

Dr. Bukola Saraki, who has remained neutral in the dispute between the two sides, had proposed a caretaker committee in place of the Ibadan convention.

He is still in favour of such committee comprising members from the two sides.

But he is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, according to the Head of Saraki’s Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

Contacted yesterday Olaniyonu responded as follows in a WhatsApp message: “We are in Saudi Arabia for the Umrah now. Maybe when we return after Sallah, one will have a good idea of what is going on. Have a nice day.”

Some other party sources said Saraki has intensified consultations with leading figures across both camps, holding series of discreet meetings in Abuja, Lagos and Ilorin aimed at preventing a final rupture.

Saraki’s credibility within the PDP stems partly from his long-standing relationships across the party’s ideological and regional divides.

His mediation efforts are also said to enjoy the tacit backing of respected party elders including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former caretaker chairman Ahmed Makarfi, who was also Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees.

Sources familiar with the talks say Saraki’s message to both factions is that the PDP risks extinction if the crisis continues into 2027.

Turaki faction’s conditions for reconciliation

Sources close to the Turaki faction said its members are willing to work with the Wike side but on the condition that he shelves his plan to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister is said to be unwilling to accept the condition.

It was gathered that some members of the Turaki group are considering joining former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the African Democratic Congress rather than returning to a PDP that would be supporting the APC in the 2027 presidential election.

According to sources, aside from the arrangements for the PDP national convention, two other critical conflict issues are the control of party structures as the Turaki bloc wants guarantees that the upcoming congresses and national convention will not be all Wike loyalists.

Why Makinde keeps party in suspense over naming of preferred successor

The lingering crisis in the PDP is said to be largely responsible for the delay by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in naming his preferred successor.

On Monday, March 3, 2025, Makinde announced that by January this year, he would let the people of the state know the person he would like to take over from him at the end of his own tenure next year.

He spoke at the 11th Omituntun Ramadan lecture in Ibadan.

However, while addressing the 12th edition of the lecture this week, the governor only spoke about the virtues he expects his preferred successor to possess: competence and loyalty to Oyo State, not personal allegiance.

He emphasised that loyalty to the state is crucial, citing examples of past leaders who faced challenges after installing successors who were not loyal to the state.

Makinde belongs to the Turaki faction of the PDP whose leadership was sacked on Monday by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.

The Oyo State Governor is one of the only two state governors left in the party following the exit of eight others in quick succession over the last one year owing to the PDP crisis.

He has fallen out with his erstwhile ally, Nyesom Wike whose faction is now effectively in control of the PDP.

Wike’s faction of the PDP in Oyo State is led by a former deputy governor of the state Hazeem Gbolarumi.

Gbolarumi’s residence at Bodija, Ibadan was attacked last Saturday by hoodlums suspected to be political thugs in the aftermath of the ward congresses conducted by the Wike faction of the PDP.

Party sources said Makinde may be dragging his feet on naming his preferred candidate as he is still weighing his future in the PDP.

He recently received in Ibadan former vice president Atiku Abubakar who is a leading presidential aspirant from the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC).

Makinde’s silence on his preferred candidate has created tension within his faction of the PDP.

It has also raised questions about his own ambitions. With his tenure as governor ending in 2027, some speculate that he is positioning himself for a national role or seeking to secure a legacy in Oyo State.

The PDP’s internal conflicts have led to a wave of defections, with several governors and lawmakers leaving the party. This exodus has weakened the PDP and created uncertainty about its future. (The Nation)