PDP Crisis: Turaki-led NWC Meets Top Stakeholders Wednesday.

The fate of the Peoples Democratic Party and attempts to curb major defections will dominate discussions this week as the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee begins an important series of meetings with state chairmen, former governors, former ministers, lawmakers and other central stakeholders.

A member of the NWC, who spoke anonymously because he was not permitted to speak publicly, said on Monday that the meetings were intended to steady the opposition party at a time of rising internal tensions.

In a statement on Monday, the National Organising Secretary, Theophilous Shan, confirmed that the NWC had put together a programme of engagements involving party leaders across the country.

PDP governors had earlier expressed support for the Ibadan convention of November 16, which elected Turaki and other NWC members for a four-year tenure.

However, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, together with Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, still insists that they remain the acting National Chairman and National Secretary.

Although the governors arranged a smooth transition from the former National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9, Wike’s faction on Sunday appointed Mohammed, Anyanwu and several others into a 60-day caretaker committee.

With the party facing confusion, the Turaki-led NWC will meet this week in Abuja with state chairmen, PDP caucuses in both chambers of the National Assembly, national ex-officio members, and groups of former governors, former ministers and former NWC members.

According to the timetable published by Shan, the NWC will meet on Wednesday, December 10, with state chairmen, members of the House of Representatives and national ex-officio members.

The committee will also issue a Certificate of Return to the party’s candidate for the Ekiti governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, Dr Oluwole Oluyede.

Meetings with former PDP governors, former ministers and previous NWC members have been fixed for Tuesday, December 16, while senators are expected to meet the NWC on Wednesday, December 17.

Shan explained that these engagements form part of the newly elected NWC’s strategy to rebuild the party after the contentious 2025 national convention held in Ibadan.

An NWC insider said Turaki plans to use the meetings to reassure party members, discourage defections and outline the committee’s plans for restructuring the party.

“It is a series of meetings with leaders at all levels. We want to highlight the progress made so far, share our plans and appeal to everyone to remain in the PDP. The leadership will also address actions taken against those undermining the party,” he said.

In another development, the NWC has established the Osun State Governorship Appeal Panel to review complaints arising from the PDP primary ahead of the 2026 election. The panel, chaired by Turaki, is scheduled to sit on Thursday, December 11.

Separately, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, and the leader of the South-East PDP caucus, Idu Igariwey, said they would not be attending Wednesday’s meeting.

Turaki had arranged the meeting to be held at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, through a notice signed by Shan. However, Chinda, who is aligned with Wike, said he had not received any invitation.

“I saw no invitation,” he said.

Igariwey also responded, “Not yet, my brother,” when asked whether he had received an invitation.

However, Fred Agbedi, the PDP caucus leader in the House, confirmed that he would attend, explaining that members had been aware of the meeting since the previous week. Agbedi, who stayed in the party despite Governor Douye Diri’s recent defection to the APC, said preparations were underway.

Also confirming his attendance, Mansur Soro, who represents Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, noted that the invitation “is open to all members.”

The party remains divided, with Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State leading one faction and Wike leading the other. The conflict intensified after the disputed Ibadan convention, which received support from an Oyo State High Court but was halted twice by the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged violations of the PDP constitution.

As both factions continue to claim leadership, the PDP national secretariat remains sealed by police to prevent disorder.

At the time of reporting, the Deputy National Secretary, Richard Ihediwa, and the National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, were not available to comment.