PDP divide widens as Wike’s camp denounces ‘fake’ 103rd NEC meeting

The internal conflict within Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as the camp loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected claims of a convened 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the formation of a caretaker committee.

Wike’s faction has labelled these claims as illegal and unfounded.

In a statement released yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed dismissed the reports of the meeting and caretaker committee, accusing those behind it of attempting to mislead the public.

According to Mohammed, no such meeting was convened by the legitimate leadership of the PDP. They declared that any resolutions or decisions emanating from the so-called gathering are “null, void, and of no effect.”

“The so-called meeting and its purported outcomes have no legal standing,” the statement read. “This is a desperate attempt by a faction with no legitimate claim to power.”

The statement also criticized the hypocrisy of those behind the purported NEC meeting, particularly pointing out the contradiction in their stance. Previously, figures like Senator Adolphus Wabara and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki had opposed the establishment of a caretaker committee within the party. Their sudden reversal, the Wike camp argued, reveals a self-serving agenda.

The statement highlighted that the convening of any NEC meeting must comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates giving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days’ notice before such a meeting. No evidence of such notice or INEC attendance was provided, rendering any decisions made at the meeting entirely invalid.

The involvement of Senator Wabara, who has been a central figure in the dispute, also came under scrutiny. Wabara’s leadership credentials were questioned, with Wike’s camp underscoring that he lacked both the moral and constitutional legitimacy to lead the party after a series of controversies, including a history of actions contrary to the PDP’s interests.

Wike’s faction has called on party members, stakeholders, and the public to completely disregard the purported NEC meeting and its claims, stressing that it lacks any constitutional basis or legal authority.

“The PDP remains united under its legitimate leadership, committed to upholding the rule of law and democratic principles,” the statement concluded.