In a major escalation of the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), factional Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahaman Muhammad loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, declared that the current National Working Committee (NWC) will “cease to exist at midnight on December 9, 2025.”
To this end, the party has constituted a 13-member National Caretaker Committee to oversee its affairs following the expiration of the tenure of the NWC tomorrow, Tuesday.
The decision was reached on Sunday at the 104th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Abuja.
According to the resolution, the Caretaker Committee will run the party for 60 days pending the conduct of all outstanding congresses and the national convention that will usher in a new substantive leadership.
Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed was named chairman of the committee, while Senator Samuel Anyanwu will serve as secretary.
Other members include: the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); the National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar M. Bature; Dr. Kyari Grema; Hon. Janguda Haruna Mohammed; Barr. Okechukwu Osuana; Senator Nwogu Olaka; Senator Sandy Onor; Prof. Adenike Ogunse; Hon. Bisi Kolawole; Engr. Deji Doherty; and Dr. Ibrahim Bala Aboki.
NEC mandated the committee to ensure a smooth transition and immediate action on all pending activities across states and zones.
“The committee has 60 days within which all outstanding congresses must be concluded and a national convention held,” the resolution stated.
With the expiration of the NWC and the appointment of the caretaker committee, the PDP now enters a decisive phase expected to determine its direction ahead of future elections.
Earlier, addressing the 104th meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee, Abdulrahaman Muhammad warned that the party must “choose legality over settlement, discipline over disorder, and institutional loyalty over personal ambition.
“The tenure of the present National Working Committee expires at midnight on December 9, 2025,” the acting chairman said. “Their expulsion letters have been formally communicated to them. We are on the right side of the law, choosing legality over settlement, discipline over disorder, and institutional loyalty over personal ambition.”
Muhammad also accused former PDP official, David Otele, of leading a violent invasion of the party’s 103rd NEC meeting, destroying property and attacking members.
He confirmed that the incident had been reported to security agencies, stressing that Otele “is not recognised as a member of the PDP’s National Executive Committee.”
In a separate address, Chairman of the factional PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, affirmed that the transition plan aligns with the party’s constitution and is meant to ensure continuity and stability.
“The transition plan is consistent with the constitution of our party. It is to ensure administrative continuity, unity, and stability across all structures,” Ohuabunwa said.
He added that the move forms part of broader reforms designed to “restore confidence among members and strengthen compliance with the rule of law.”
The BoT further acknowledged ongoing caretaker arrangements in states and zones where congresses could not hold, including Anambra and the South- East, describing them as “necessary to prevent leadership gaps and enhance party organisation.”
Representing the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, House of Representatives member Kingsley Chinda warned against abandoning constitutional processes for political sentiment.
“No matter how strong sentiment is, no matter how persuasive an argument could be, it cannot override the law,” Chinda said.
He pledged that lawmakers would “stand on the path of the law that we have been led by us to make and will always guide our party in line with rules of law.”
Chinda praised the party leadership for steering the PDP through turbulence, saying, “Strong minds don’t last, but strong men do.”
Also, Imo PDP Chairman, Austine Nwachukwu, hailed the establishment of a new South-East Working Committee as a decisive step toward constitutional restoration.
“The National Working Committee has listened to the voice of justice,” Nwachukwu declared. “We now have an authentic working committee that can steer the party on the right path.”
He emphasised that the committee’s mandate is grounded in “rule of law, constitutionalism, and protection of party property,” and confirmed that state party chairmen nationwide have endorsed the development.
“We are on the right track, and we will do our best to ensure that the party remains strong,” Nwachukwu pledged.