Approves Babangida Aliyu as Secretary

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) has initiated moves to end the lingering leadership crisis rocking the party by setting up a special committee to drive reconciliation among aggrieved stakeholders.

This decision formed part of the resolutions reached at the end of an Expanded Emergency Meeting of the BoT held in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In a communiqué presented by the Chairman of the BoT, Adolphus Wabara, the Board also approved the appointment of former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, as Secretary of the BoT pursuant to Section 32 of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

The meeting was convened to deliberate on the leadership situation in the party following the March 9, 2026 judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Abuja Division, which invalidated the PDP National Convention held between November 15 and 16, 2025 that produced the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

While expressing disagreement with the appellate court’s ruling, the BoT said it was awaiting legal advice from the party’s lawyers on the next line of action.

“The BoT disagrees with the judgment of the Court of Appeal which pronounced an invalidation of the November 15 to 16, 2025 National Convention that produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of our party. The BoT is awaiting the advice of our lawyers on the way forward in this regard,” the communiqué stated.

The Board expressed concern over what it described as avoidable internal leadership disputes and wranglings that have triggered damaging litigations, noting that such developments had adversely affected the unity and smooth functioning of the party as the country’s major opposition platform.

Nevertheless, the BoT acknowledged the reconciliation window provided in the judgment of the Ibadan Division of the appellate court and resolved to explore it as part of efforts to restore harmony within the party.

As part of steps toward achieving this objective, the Board constituted a special committee mandated to interface with the party’s legal teams and other critical stakeholders to foster reconciliation and end the protracted leadership tussle.

The trustees also said they were mindful of the aspirations of party members seeking to contest various elective offices in the 2027 general elections, stressing the need to stabilise the party to enable it field candidates in the polls.

According to the communiqué, the BoT, as the conscience and third highest organ of the party, is determined to take immediate steps to reconcile all stakeholders, resolve disputes and restore the PDP to what it described as good political health.

The Board further noted with satisfaction what it described as a surge in nationwide electronic membership registration into the party, saying reports from across the country indicated daily registration of members in large numbers.

It said the development underscored the PDP’s continued relevance and acceptance among Nigerians despite its current internal challenges.

The BoT therefore called on all leaders and members of the party to put aside personal and group interests and unite in the overall interest of the party and Nigerians who, it said, look up to the PDP for political leadership.

It also commended the efforts of the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, as well as the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, for their commitment and steadfastness toward the stability of the party.

Reaffirming the PDP’s resolve to remain a formidable opposition force, the Board urged Nigerians not to lose hope, assuring that the party was working to reposition itself to rescue the country from what it described as the stranglehold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).