The Peoples Democratic Party may, on Monday, appoint an interim National Caretaker Committee to fill the gaping leadership vacuum created by the recent judgment of the Supreme Court that nullified the controversial Ibadan National Convention of the party.
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This development comes as the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), which has now formally assumed interim leadership of the party, met immediately after the apex court’s verdict and fixed the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for Monday.
BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, had earlier hinted in a statement that the board would soon convene a NEC meeting to appoint a caretaker committee in order to meet the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the fielding of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists after the board’s meeting on Thursday, BoT Secretary and former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’Azu Babangida Aliyu, disclosed that the BoT will meet again on Sunday, while the NEC meeting will hold a day after. Aliyu confirmed that the PDP Constitution expressly provides that where the party is without a National Working Committee, the BoT shall take over.
“The BoT has taken over the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he declared, adding that the party had accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court. “We are very happy that the Supreme Court has come clearly on this matter,” he stated.
The former governor explained that, with the nullification of the Ibadan convention and the upholding of the judgment of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the suspension of Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, Senator Anyanwu and others, “the interpretation of this judgment, therefore, clearly leaves the party without any recognised leadership, as both groups previously laying claims to the leadership have been divested of all interests by this judgment.”
He added emphatically, “We cannot, therefore, in good conscience, allow the party to become leaderless and rudderless and without direction.”
Barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court judgment, the BoT formally took over the leadership of the party, citing constitutional provisions and the urgent need to prevent a vacuum at the helm of the country’s main opposition platform.
In a press release dated 30th April, 2026, signed by the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the board explained that its decision was grounded in the 2017 amended constitution of the party. The statement noted that the intervention became necessary following the apex court’s decision, which nullified the PDP’s National Convention held in Ibadan in November 2025 that produced the leadership led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
According to the BoT, the Supreme Court also upheld the suspension of key party officials, including Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade, who held positions as National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and National Legal Adviser, respectively.
The statement read in part: “The implication of today’s judgment by the Supreme Court is that all actions taken by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature and Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, the composition of the National Caretaker Working Committee and the conduct and outcome of the March 29th, 2026 Convention in Abuja are illegal, null and ab initio void.”
It further declared that both the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led and Turaki-led working committees stand invalidated, thereby placing the responsibility of leadership on the BoT as the second-highest organ of the party under Section 32(5) of its constitution.
The statement also announced immediate steps to stabilise the party, including the convening of an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint an interim National Working Committee. “Against this backdrop, the BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility of the national working leadership of the PDP as immediate constitutional remedial steps to foster genuine reconciliation, salvage, stabilise, and return the party to good political health,” the statement added.
Party staff were also directed to resume duties at the national secretariat under the supervision of the BoT pending the formation of an interim leadership structure. The BoT, in addition, commended party stakeholders — including Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde — alongside other organs of the party for their resilience throughout the crisis.
Calling for unity, the BoT urged members to set aside their differences in the interest of the party and the country. “The PDP has suffered enough; the painful victims of this unfortunate episode are the Nigerian people. The time has therefore come for us to make sacrifices, sheathe our swords and embrace genuine reconciliations for lasting peace and chart a new course for our party,” the statement declared.
Meanwhile, the PDP is currently holding an emergency meeting with key stakeholders in Asokoro, Abuja — a session described as a decisive move to navigate the current leadership impasse and safeguard the institutional integrity of the party.
The high-level session has brought together the party’s most influential organs, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, members of the National Assembly Caucus, the National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Caucus, state chairmen, and ex officio members.
The Board of Trustees, through its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, had already issued a statement regarding the takeover of party affairs pending the appointment of a caretaker committee.
It is recalled that the Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the 2025 National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The convention, which produced former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Ismaila Turaki, was organised by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while the rival faction was led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
With the BoT now firmly in the saddle and Monday’s NEC meeting expected to herald the formation of an interim caretaker structure, all eyes are now on the leadership of the party as it embarks on what may prove the most consequential reorganisation in its recent political history, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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