Rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party say they are open to reconciliation amid a lingering leadership crisis that has divided Nigeria’s main opposition party.
Members aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and those loyal to Oyo State Gov. Seyi Makinde expressed willingness to engage in dialogue in separate interviews Saturday, following an advisory from the Court of Appeal in Ibadan urging both sides to settle their differences amicably.
The appellate court, led by Justice Bobele Georgewill, gave the advice while hearing an appeal filed by one of the factions. The court adjourned the case until March 11.
The court is expected to consider two appeals seeking to overturn conflicting rulings delivered earlier by the Federal High Court in Ibadan and the Oyo State High Court regarding the legitimacy of the party’s Ibadan convention.
Both factions have since claimed leadership of the party and are seeking recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Wike-backed faction, led by caretaker chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman secured a ruling from the Federal High Court in Ibadan on Nov. 25, 2025, nullifying the outcome of the party’s convention held Nov. 15–16, 2025.
That convention produced a National Working Committee headed by Tanimu Turaki .
In a separate judgment on Feb. 25, however, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court ruled that the convention complied with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act. The court affirmed Turaki as the duly elected national chairman.
Following the conflicting rulings, both factions filed appeals in courts in Abuja and Ibadan seeking to overturn the decisions.
Samuel Anyanwu, acting national secretary of the Abdulrahman-led caretaker committee, said his faction remained open to dialogue. He said the two groups had not met directly but that some party stakeholders were attempting to mediate.
“For the benefit of doubt, nobody is against reconciliation. We are the ones who have been asking these people to come back so that we can rebuild our party,” Anyanwu said.
He accused members of the rival faction of prolonging the crisis for personal interests and insisted that the caretaker committee remains the only structure recognized by the electoral commission.
Anyanwu also blamed Makinde for the crisis, alleging the governor was attempting to dominate the party’s structure.
“Governor Makinde is the major cause of the crisis in the party because he wants to make sure that he is the only governor remaining in the party,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that Wike was responsible for the internal divisions, noting that no PDP governor defected during Wike’s tenure as governor of Rivers State.
However, Ini Ememobong, national publicity secretary of the Turaki-led faction, said his group was also willing to reconcile but insisted any settlement must strengthen the party.
Ememobong said the Court of Appeal did not deliver a final ruling but only advised the factions to resolve the dispute internally.
“It is not a ruling; it is an advisory,” he said, adding that the judge had reviewed the case files and suggested the matter was largely an internal party issue.
The court adjourned proceedings to allow both sides explore the possibility of reconciliation, he said.
“We are not averse to reconciliation, but it must be based on principle,” Ememobong said. “We want reconciliation that will build the party, ensure its survival and position it to win elections.”
