PDP caretaker committee dismisses court order claims, insists convention will proceed
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed have said they are unaware of any court order halting the party’s planned national convention, insisting the exercise will go ahead as scheduled.
The convention is billed to hold in Abuja on Sunday, 29 March, and Monday, 30 March.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the committee’s publicity secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the party had complied with all legal and constitutional requirements and was fully prepared for the exercise.
He described the convention as a product of extensive planning, aimed at ensuring credibility, transparency and inclusiveness.
“The National Caretaker Working Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure that this convention is not only credible and transparent but also inclusive and reflective of the collective aspirations of our members across the country,” he said.
“We wish to assure all party faithful and the general public that this convention is being conducted in full compliance with the constitution of our party and in line with all relevant laws.”
Mohammed also urged party members to remain calm amid attempts by “certain individuals” to disrupt the process, adding that reconciliation efforts remained ongoing but would not derail the convention.
The remarks come amid a deepening internal dispute within the party, with a rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki challenging the legitimacy of the convention.
Members of the Turaki-led group had earlier told journalists they had filed an appeal against a Court of Appeal judgment that invalidated the Ibadan convention and were seeking an order to stop the fresh gathering.
Despite the legal challenge, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the convention would proceed, dismissing the appeal as having no immediate effect.
Speaking after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, the venue for the event, Wike said reconciliation within the party would continue after the convention.
“There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party,” he said. “In any group, there will be grievances. What is most important is the overall interest of the party.”
Wike confirmed that key positions had already been zoned, with the presidency allocated to the south and the chairmanship to the north, in what he described as a consensus-driven arrangement.
“For the first time, the PDP is presenting a unified front,” he said, adding that the party was about 95% ready for the convention, with seating and logistics largely concluded for an expected 2,500 delegates.
The former Rivers state governor also expressed confidence in the party’s prospects, saying it would “shock Nigerians” with its performance in the 2027 general elections.