The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has declared that despite recent internal crisis and legal setbacks, the opposition party will not surrender to “renegades and political brigands”.
This is as he expressed optimism that the PDP would overcome its current challenges and reposition itself for victory in the 2027 general elections.
Wabara, who stated these on Sunday at the 84th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, held in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment that nullified the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), said that despite the challenges, the party remains strong and united.
The PDP BoT chairman accused some unnamed individuals of internal sabotage, saying that they were working in the interest of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the party ahead of the next general elections.
Wabara, who is the chairman of the Governor Seyi Makinde’ faction, therefore vowed that the PDP will never surrender to renegades and political brigands,” he declared.
He noted that the Supreme Court verdict of April 30, 2026, effectively dissolved the Kabiru Turaki-led NWC and invalidated the 2025 National Convention that produced it. Wabara said following the development, the Board of Trustees of the PDP swiftly assumed administrative leadership of the party in line with the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017) to prevent leadership vacuum.
In the words of Wabara; “The immediate intervention of the BoT averted a vacuum and ensured continuity in the party’s administration.
“The party had since received widespread solidarity messages from Nigerians across different sectors, expressing confidence in the PDP’s ability to overcome its challenges. These messages reinforce our belief that Nigerians are still with us and strengthen our resolve to lead the charge to rescue the nation from the grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections,” he said.
Wabara commended members of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC), led by Turaki for their patriotism, loyalty, and resilience during the crisis and also extended similar appreciation to PDP governors, members of the National Assembly caucus, party officials, and supporters for standing firm.
Referencing events that led to the internal crisis, the BoT chairman noted that troubles began months before the planned November 2025 national convention in Ibadan, saying that some suspended party officials, in collaboration with external forces, instituted a court case aimed at stopping the convention.
He noted that the legal action was concealed from the party leadership, leading to a court judgment against the PDP shortly before the scheduled convention.
Wabara said; “The Supreme Court later upheld the suspension of key party officers, affirming that the suspended officials could not act in any official capacity and that actions taken by the suspended officials, including the appointment of an acting national chairman and the conduct of a parallel convention in Abuja, were rendered invalid by the apex court ruling”.
The BoT chairman announced that the party has secured the consent of two-thirds of members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to convene its 103rd NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been duly notified.
Wabara appealed to party leaders to use the BoT meeting to promote unity, reconciliation, and strategic direction, saying; “We must take decisive steps to stabilize, strengthen, and energize our party for the task ahead”.
