The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the formation of a national caretaker committee by a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing the action as “an absurdity” and a continued descent into “illegality.”
In a statement issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party said the purported caretaker committee was “clearly designed to coordinate their personal political affairs.” He added that the move would have been insignificant “if they had not attempted to falsely cloak it in the name of PDP, a party that had duly expelled them, with certificates as evidence.”
Ememobong stated: “The activity they claim to have undertaken is one they clearly lack the authority to carry out, even if they were still members of the party. For the avoidance of doubt, all organs of our party, particularly the National Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees, remain intact and under the legitimate leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. These organs are led by dignified individuals, who cannot be procured or commodified in the manner that has become the signature modus operandi of this group of former members.”
The PDP further noted that Wike, “acting through his agents Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Sam Anyanwu,” had filed a suit on 21 November 2025 before Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the nullification and non-recognition of the PDP Convention and its outcomes. According to the party, their application for an interim injunction was refused, and all parties were cautioned against taking actions that could undermine the court’s eventual judgment.
“By proceeding to announce a fictitious National Caretaker Committee, they have acted in clear contempt of the court and have fundamentally altered the status of the two plaintiffs in that suit,” the statement added.
Describing the development as “a further deepening of the trenches of illegality they have been digging since 2023,” the PDP accused the Wike-led group of attempting to incapacitate the party and obstruct its role as Nigeria’s main opposition. “Their absurdity has now graduated into a full-fledged tool in the ruling party’s playbook, weaponised by this Wike-led band of APC apologists,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has constituted an appeal panel ahead of the Osun State governorship primary election. In a notice signed by National Organising Secretary Theophilus Shan, National Chairman Kabiru Turaki was named chairman of the panel, while Taofeek Arapaja will serve as secretary, alongside 22 other members.
According to the statement: “The NWC of our Great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), @OfficialPDPNig has appointed the following as members of the Osun State Governorship Appeal Panel to consider appeals arising from the conduct of the Governorship Primary Election for the upcoming 2026 Governorship Election in the State. The appeal is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025 at Bauchi Governors Lodge, Tatari Ali House, behind ECOWAS Secretariat, Asokoro District, Abuja.”
Members of the panel include Dr. Daniel Woyengikuro, Hamza Koshe, Ihediwa Nnabugwu, Isa Abubakar, Okechukwu Daniel, Shan, Ememobong, Aribisala Idowu, Bara’u Shafi’i, Ogbu Anthonia Chinenyenwa, Emmanuel Ogidi, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Bello Gwarzo, Francis Orogu, Ali Odefa, Umar Babangida, Obasi Elebe, Mark Ogbole, Nuhu Bajoga, Sharrif Abdullahi, Ojo Oke, and Onyia Ejiofor.
Emmanuel Ekpe will serve as Administrative Secretary, working alongside Suleiman Usman.
The panel is expected to carry out its assignment in strict compliance with the PDP Constitution (2025 as amended), the Electoral Guidelines for Party Primaries, and the Electoral Act, 2022.
