The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that it will boycott the party’s forthcoming National Convention, citing a breakdown in communication and deepening leadership crisis within the party.

In a disclaimer jointly signed by several state executives and local government party chairmen, the Rivers PDP accused the national leadership of sidelining the state chapter led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

According to the statement, the national leadership failed to establish any proper communication channel with the state delegation, leaving them “incommunicado” ahead of the convention.

The party also expressed anger over the inclusion of their names and photographs in the brochure for the proposed Ibadan National Convention without their knowledge or consent.

As a result, the Rivers State PDP said it has unanimously resolved not to participate in the National Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The statement read in part: “That there was no proper communication channel between the national leadership of the party and our leader, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, which has consequently left us incommunicado.

“We were neither consulted nor was approval sought or obtained before our names and photographs appeared in the brochure of the proposed Ibadan National Convention of the party.

“In view of the above, we therefore unanimously resolved not to participate in the forthcoming National Convention scheduled to be held on the 15th to 16th of November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State.”

Despite the boycott, the statement reaffirmed the chapter’s loyalty to Governor Fubara, declaring him the undisputed leader of the party in the state.

Meanwhile, the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Thursday as the faction led by Acting National Chairman, Muhammad Abdulrahman, announced a boycott of the party’s national convention scheduled for Ibadan this weekend, declaring it illegal and unconstitutional.

The Abdulrahman-led faction, backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and several National Working Committee (NWC) members, met in Abuja and resolved to shun the Ibadan gathering, accusing the Umar Damagum-led group of “brazen disregard for valid court judgments” and “flagrant abuse of the PDP constitution.”

Abdulrahman urged delegates and members across the 36 states and the FCT to stay away from the convention, stressing that the PDP must operate strictly within the boundaries of the law.

“We are concerned with moving the PDP forward,” he said. “Therefore, all delegates should stay away from the Ibadan convention and wait for the right time. We will continue to mobilise for a strong and united party anchored on justice and legality.”

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who attended the meeting, accused the Damagum group of undermining democracy through disregard for the judiciary.