The two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party have opened direct peace talks in a last-ditch effort to resolve the leadership crisis that has polarised Nigeria’s main opposition party since November 2025, with the faction backed by PDP governors confirming that “leaders on both sides have broken the ice” while FCT Minister Nyesom Wike insisted there is no faction within the party and that reconciliation can continue alongside convention preparations.
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The renewed peace moves come with the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee’s national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 — just four days away — creating an urgent timeline that could either produce a unified party or deepen the split irreversibly.
Multiple sources from both camps confirmed to reporters that direct communication was established on Tuesday night, with both sides agreeing to raise teams to iron out all issues without intermediaries — a significant departure from previous attempts that relied on third-party mediation.
A source familiar with the negotiations disclosed that the two parties opened direct communication on Tuesday night and agreed to negotiate without middlemen.
“The two parties opened direct communication Tuesday night and they agreed to raise a team to iron out all the issues without any intermediary,” the source stated.
According to the source, both sides had come to realise that some party leaders expected to midwife the reconciliation were allegedly compounding the issues rather than resolving them, leading to the decision to negotiate directly.
Another source confirmed that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed had reached out to Wike and that both men were expected to meet.
“Yes. It is correct. Both groups have started talking. Bala has reached out to the FCT minister and they will meet today,” the source stated.
The renewed efforts were reportedly driven by the shared concern that if the crisis lingers, both sides would suffer huge political losses that could be inimical to the survival of the PDP itself.
Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting of the party’s leadership, PDP National Chairman Tanimu Turaki — the candidate of the governors’ faction — confirmed the renewed talks in the most optimistic terms used by either side since the crisis began.
“I can unequivocally confirm that, as of today, leaders on both sides have broken the ice and are exploring various pathways towards a lasting resolution,” Turaki stated.
He urged supporters across the board to immediately de-escalate heated communications and actions so as not to jeopardise the ongoing peace efforts.
Turaki signalled an extraordinary willingness to compromise, using language that suggested his faction was prepared to make significant concessions.
“We are willing to bend as far as our necks and backs allow. We are ready to make all sorts of sacrifices in the overall interest of the party. PDP will not die. Everything possible will be done to make this reconciliation work; nothing is impossible,” the PDP chairman declared.
In a significant development, Turaki disclosed that once agreements are reached, all pending cases across multiple courts would be withdrawn by both sides.
“As I speak, there are cases filed by both parties, including appeals at the Court of Appeal. As soon as we reach agreeable terms, which we will honour, we will willingly withdraw all cases — whether at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, or elsewhere — to give peace a chance,” Turaki stated.
This commitment, if honoured, would remove the legal barriers that have complicated the party’s governance and prevented either faction from operating with full institutional authority.
In a revealing disclosure, Turaki stated that both sides had identified individuals who were working against reconciliation and had taken steps to remove them from the process.
“I am not saying there are no elements on both sides whose sole intention is to prevent peace in this party. From last night, these two elements have been identified and flushed out in the discussions between the two sides,” Turaki stated.
He framed the saboteurs as individuals from “unimaginable and unbelievable quarters — sometimes those you think are friends or family — who will be the first to rise and truncate those good things coming your way.”
On the critical question of whether his faction would participate in the Wike camp’s convention scheduled for March 29-30, Turaki said the matter was among the issues on the negotiating table.
“Issues such as attendance at the convention are among those to be discussed. Once these matters are deliberated, the parties and delegates will decide whether the convention needs to continue. These issues are on the table and will be considered carefully,” Turaki stated.
This response suggests that the governors’ faction has not ruled out participating in the convention if satisfactory terms are agreed upon — but equally has not committed to it, leaving the question open pending the outcome of negotiations.
Meanwhile, Wike struck a characteristically confident tone, dismissing any suggestion that the PDP was divided into factions.
“We have only one PDP, no faction. The disagreements within the party do not amount to a split. I don’t know which camp you are talking about. There is only one PDP. Some individuals may not be happy, yes, but there is no faction,” Wike stated after inspecting infrastructure projects across Abuja.
He added that reconciliation could continue alongside convention preparations, saying: “That there is convention does not mean there will be no reconciliation. Everything has its own time.”
Despite the peace talks, the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee has stated that there is no going back on its convention scheduled for March 29 and 30. The committee has already commenced the sale of nomination forms and reaffirmed the zoning formula for national elective positions.
Chairman of the caretaker committee, Abdulrahman Mohammed, described the convention as a “critical milestone” and declared a “no victor, no vanquished” approach to reconciliation.
The caretaker committee’s insistence on proceeding with the convention while peace talks are ongoing creates a pressure point — if talks succeed, the convention could be restructured to accommodate both factions; if they fail, the convention will proceed with only the Wike faction, potentially deepening the split.
Turaki disclosed that the party’s Board of Trustees, led by Adolphus Wabara, had constituted a high-level committee to engage estranged members and resolve lingering disputes. The move was part of what Turaki described as a broader effort to reposition the party for the elections, following the Court of Appeal’s advisory for parties to explore settlement.
The Turaki-led faction passed a vote of confidence in Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, praising their “resilience and steadfast leadership” amid the crisis.
However, Governor Makinde had earlier expressed doubt about the possibility of reconciliation, arguing that the Wike-backed group was bent on supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 — a position that has been a fundamental point of contention between the factions.
Turaki concluded with a robust defence of the PDP’s relevance, describing it as “Nigeria’s only surviving legacy party” with 16 years of governance experience.
“The PDP is alive and will participate in the forthcoming elections, offering a credible platform for robust political contests at all levels, so that power may truly return to the people,” he declared.
He stressed the necessity of a strong opposition for democracy, saying: “Democracy is not merely about the periodic conduct of elections; it also requires a virile opposition and an active civil society to hold the government accountable.”
The next four days will be critical. If the direct talks produce an agreement before March 29, the convention could be restructured as a unity exercise. If they fail, the Wike faction will proceed with its convention, potentially electing a new set of national officers that the Turaki faction will not recognise, creating two parallel party structures and prolonging the crisis through the courts and into the 2027 electoral cycle.
The meeting between Governor Mohammed and Wike, if it takes place as sources suggest, could be the decisive moment that determines whether the PDP emerges from this crisis as one party or fragments into competing entities.
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