Details: Wike Group Sacks Wabara-Led PDP BoT, Appoints Mao Ohuabunwa as Crisis Deepens

The Wike faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees, naming Mao Ohuabunwa as new chairman as the party’s internal crisis deepens ahead of the Ibadan national convention

Details: Wike Group Sacks Wabara-Led PDP BoT, Appoints Mao Ohuabunwa as Crisis Deepens

The Wike group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT), appointing Senator Mao Ohuabunwa as the new chairman in a dramatic escalation of the party’s leadership crisis.

The faction announced the move at an emergency meeting on Thursday, citing the Wabara-led BoT’s “loss of moral authority and political neutrality.” Hon. Isah Dansidi was also appointed as the new Secretary, replacing Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

However, the Umar Damagum-led faction downplayed the development, describing Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, who was recently installed by the Wike camp as acting National Chairman, as an impostor. It insisted that National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade remained suspended.

The Damagum faction dismissed the rival group’s actions as a “desperate bid to derail the Ibadan national convention.”

Ohuabunwa Takes Charge, Cites Erosion of Neutrality

In a communiqué issued after its meeting, the new BoT led by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa said the shake-up became necessary following the erosion of neutrality by the previous leadership.

“The immediate past BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, having publicly taken sides in the ongoing intra-party crisis, could no longer continue to serve in their previous capacities,” Ohuabunwa stated.

He explained that the new leadership was appointed in line with the PDP’s internal balancing formula — with both Wabara and Ohuabunwa from the South, and Makarfi and Dansidi representing the North.

The meeting, held in Abuja, was attended by prominent members including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Chief Jim Nwobodo, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Anyanwu, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, and Senator Philip Aduda.

BoT Backs Court Judgment, Calls for Postponement of Ibadan Convention

The new BoT welcomed the October 31 Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the planned Ibadan convention.

It argued that the ruling supersedes the Oyo State High Court’s decision that allowed the convention to proceed, urging full compliance with the federal court’s order.

“Prudence and respect for judicial processes demand that the proposed National Convention be postponed until the Court of Appeal delivers its decision,” the communiqué stated.

The BoT pledged to act as the “conscience and stabilising moral compass” of the PDP and reaffirmed its commitment to unity, discipline, and constitutional order.

Abdulrahman: PDP Lost Its Moral Balance

The group’s acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, described the inauguration of the new BoT as a “turning point for the party.”

“The previous Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, sadly lost the moral balance expected of that noble institution,” he said.
“The credibility of that leadership became heavily questioned, and its continued role in national advisory matters became untenable.”

He accused Damagum of “choosing convenience over constitution and loyalty over legality,” adding that the recent court ruling was “a wake-up call to restore the PDP’s founding ideals of justice, inclusivity, and respect for the rule of law.”

Nwobodo Urges Peace and Reconciliation

Elder statesman and Second Republic Governor Chief Jim Nwobodo, the oldest founding member of the PDP in attendance, appealed for reconciliation and unity.

“PDP is like the ANC of South Africa — it is the mother of Nigeria’s democracy,” Nwobodo said.
“Do all you can to bring about peace in our party. Many who left are willing to return if we open our doors.”

He also praised Minister Nyesom Wike for his leadership in Abuja and urged him to channel that same energy toward rebuilding the party.

Damagum Group Stands Firm on Ibadan Convention

Meanwhile, the Damagum-led PDP faction insisted that preparations for the Ibadan National Elective Convention on November 15–16 remain on course.

In a post on its verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the faction described the upcoming event as a “bold declaration of renewal, reconciliation, and resilience.”

“With just eight days to the landmark PDP National Elective Convention, the party is firing on all cylinders, ready to elect a dynamic new National Working Committee and solidify its unity as Nigeria’s premier opposition force gearing up for 2027,” the statement read.

The faction confirmed that over 3,000 delegates from across the country would participate, reaffirming Ambassador Umar Damagum’s legitimacy as acting National Chairman and warning against “illegitimate actors and APC proxies” attempting to destabilise the party. Read More