PDP BoT Dissolved as Wike-Backed Faction Moves to Reshape Party Leadership

Tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Friday as a faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced the dissolution of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and the installation of a new leadership structure.

The declaration was made by factional Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammad, during a meeting at Wike’s residence in Abuja. Muhammad said the decision was taken due to what he described as the BoT’s “loss of credibility and moral authority.”

He criticised the dissolved board led by Adolphus Wabara, accusing it of becoming “divided and ineffective,” and argued that Wabara’s suspension by the PDP in Abia State for alleged anti-party activities made his continued leadership untenable. He also faulted the suspended acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, for allegedly shielding constitutional violations within the party.

Muhammad cited a recent Federal High Court ruling obtained by party members as the basis for reconstituting the BoT, insisting that the move was necessary to “restore discipline, order and dignity” to the PDP.

The newly inaugurated BoT, expected to be unveiled following closed-door consultations, is being positioned by the faction as a reformist body tasked with steering the party back to its founding values of equity and internal democracy.

Muhammad maintained that the PDP’s troubles began when it abandoned its zoning arrangement ahead of the 2015 elections, allowing personal interests to override fairness. He said the faction intends to rebuild the party on principles of transparency and strict adherence to its constitution.

“We must reform or risk irrelevance,” Muhammad declared, calling the shake-up a step to reclaim the PDP’s role as a major national opposition force.

The development deepens the ongoing power struggle within the PDP, with the opposing camp yet to formally respond.