PDP convention Abuja to proceed as Wike dismisses crisis and legal challenges ahead of party gathering in Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday night reaffirmed that the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party will take place as scheduled on March 29 and 30 in Abuja, despite ongoing internal disputes and legal challenges.

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Wike made the declaration after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, the venue for the convention, expressing satisfaction with preparations and insisting that reconciliation efforts within the party would continue beyond the event.

He disclosed that about 2,500 delegates are expected to attend the gathering, which is seen as a crucial step in repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dismissing concerns over internal divisions, Wike downplayed the impact of a Supreme Court appeal filed by a faction led by Tanimu Turaki, maintaining that it would not disrupt the convention.

“There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party. The umbrella is wide enough to accommodate everyone,” he said, acknowledging that disagreements are inevitable in a party of its size.

The minister stressed that reconciliation would be a continuous process, aimed at strengthening unity and consolidating the party’s position ahead of future elections.

He added that leaders had agreed to engage aggrieved members to address their concerns.

On zoning, Wike confirmed that key positions had been allocated across regions to ensure balance, noting that the presidency has been zoned to the South while the chairmanship is reserved for the North.

“For the first time, the PDP is presenting a unified front,” he said, describing the arrangement as a departure from previous contentious “unity lists.”

Providing an update on logistics, Wike said preparations had reached an advanced stage, with seating and VIP arrangements largely completed.

“We expect to reach about 95 per cent readiness, and everything will be set,” he added.

The inspection was attended by several party leaders, including Okezie Ikpeazu, Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee; Mao Ohuabunwa; Mohammed Abdulrahman; and Samuel Anyanwu.

The convention comes against the backdrop of a protracted leadership crisis that has gripped the party since November 2025.

Competing factions emerged following a disputed convention in Ibadan, which produced a rival leadership later nullified by the Court of Appeal.

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Despite the turmoil, Wike expressed strong optimism about the party’s prospects, declaring that the PDP would stage a powerful comeback and surprise Nigerians in the 2027 elections.