A major political rescue effort is reportedly taking shape within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), driven by influential party figures including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido. Their mission, according to sources, is to pull the once-dominant opposition party back from what many insiders now describe as the brink of “total collapse.”
At the heart of their proposed solution is the establishment of a National Caretaker Committee—an interim leadership body expected to stabilize the party, manage its affairs, and organize a broadly acceptable national convention. Support for the caretaker idea is growing rapidly, largely because the PDP is currently entangled in multiple unresolved leadership disputes that threaten its operational and electoral future.
A Party in Legal and Political Disarray
The crisis intensified as the tenure of the previous National Working Committee (NWC) approaches its expiration date of December 10. Although a new leadership team was announced during a convention held in Ibadan last month under the chairmanship of Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu, its legitimacy remains under judicial scrutiny. Party insiders fear that the Federal High Court may soon nullify the Ibadan exercise entirely, citing the failure to comply with constitutionally required pre-convention procedures.
Further compounding the turmoil is the conflicting information on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, which still lists Ambassador Umar Damagum as National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. With INEC recognizing only those two officials for critical administrative processes—including uploading candidate information—this duality has generated what many describe as an “authority vacuum.” Neither faction presently commands undisputed control.
Electoral Risks Mounting Ahead of Ekiti and Osun Polls
The internal chaos has escalated to the point where it now threatens the PDP’s participation in the 2026 off-season governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. INEC procedures require the officially recognized national chairman and secretary to obtain a secure access code for submitting candidate details. But Damagum and Anyanwu are aligned with rival blocs: Damagum has been associated with the faction backing Kabiru Tanimu, while Anyanwu maintains close ties to Wike.
The direct consequence of this schism is a debilitating administrative stalemate. Party officials warn that if the PDP fails to access or properly use the INEC upload portal, it could effectively lock itself out of the electoral race—an unprecedented setback for a major political party.
Already, the deepening uncertainty is being blamed for the reported defection of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is said to be preparing to run for a second term under the Accord Party rather than risk depending on the PDP’s fractured structure.
Momentum Builds for an Interim Leadership Solution
To avert a total institutional breakdown, key stakeholders are planning a high-level meeting to formally endorse the creation of a caretaker leadership. According to party sources, Saraki—who has played a central role in reconciliation efforts—first proposed the idea several weeks ago. His allies, along with supporters of Wike and Lamido, have since intensified consultations to ensure the caretaker arrangement becomes a reality.
“There is now a consensus among most of the contending factions,” a party insider said, noting that the looming court ruling and the expiration of the outgoing NWC’s tenure leave the PDP with virtually no other workable option. Another legislator emphasized that failure to establish a caretaker committee immediately could plunge the party into complete administrative paralysis.
With the deadline for activating the INEC access code for the Ekiti governorship election having already passed on November 10—and the final date for uploading candidate details set for December 22—the PDP finds itself in a race against time. Unless the leadership crisis is resolved swiftly, the party may lose the opportunity to field candidates in crucial elections, further weakening its national relevance.
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