A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has fixed May 25 for the election of its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The faction also scheduled its state assembly primaries for May 2, National Assembly primaries for May 9, and governorship primaries for May 16.
The dates were approved on Wednesday during the faction’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the group set April 10 as the deadline for the submission of the party’s membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
NEC members commended the national caretaker working committee, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, for “stabilising the party and managing its affairs during the ongoing transitional period.”
The faction also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of ward and local government congresses across the country.
According to the communiqué, the state congresses scheduled for the weekend will be conducted peacefully and in strict compliance with the PDP constitution.
The NEC also approved the conduct of zonal congresses within the next two weeks as part of preparations for the party’s national convention slated for March 28 and 29.
The group further commended the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal Nigeria in Abuja, which nullified the national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Reconciliation Calls
Speaking during the meeting, Wike said his faction remained firmly in control of the party’s structure and would only negotiate from a position of strength.
He said reconciliation within the PDP must be genuine and based on clear proposals from those seeking peace.
The FCT minister warned against secretive negotiations, urging party leaders to present their reconciliation terms openly.
Wike also dismissed claims that his role in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal administration makes him a “mole” within the PDP, noting that those who previously accused him of working with the ruling party had since left the opposition.
He maintained that the PDP national convention would proceed as scheduled and rejected suggestions that a caretaker committee should be constituted to placate aggrieved members.
In his remarks, Abba Moro, Senate Minority Leader and a member of the faction aligned with Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, urged party members to prioritise the survival of the PDP over personal ambitions.
Moro said the PDP caucus in the National Assembly of Nigeria had been engaging different factions in efforts to foster unity within the party.
He called on party leaders to make sacrifices to preserve the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
