 has escalated as party stakeholders challenge the legitimacy of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and its recent decisions.){kind=link}
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated as party stakeholders challenge the legitimacy of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and its recent decisions.
While some members argue that the BoT’s tenure has expired, others maintain that its leadership still holds the authority to navigate the party through its ongoing turbulence.
Reports suggest that 85 out of 127 BoT members have been absent from recent meetings, raising concerns over whether the board has the quorum to make binding decisions. Critics insist that the BoT, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, is acting without constitutional backing, making its resolutions invalid.
The PDP has been struggling with internal conflicts since the 2023 elections, with leadership disputes worsening the situation. One of the key points of contention is the battle for the National Secretary position between Sunday Ude-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
A recent Court of Appeal ruling affirmed Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary, but Anyanwu and his supporters continue to contest the verdict.
Tensions boiled over on January 28 when Anyanwu’s loyalists forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting, prompting security intervention.
PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, have since thrown their support behind Ude-Okoye, urging the party’s National Working Committee to implement the court’s decision.
However, Anyanwu remains defiant, petitioning the police and judiciary to recognize his claim to the position. He argues that the BoT’s endorsement of Ude-Okoye lacks legal standing, as most of its members’ tenures have expired.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor also dismissed the BoT’s recent actions, alleging that over 70% of its members are either inactive or ineligible. He accused Wabara of exploiting the situation for personal gain.
“Over 70% of the current BoT members’ tenures have expired, and nearly 15 of them have serious health challenges. The BoT is not properly constituted and lacks the necessary quorum to make decisions,” Osadolor told Punch.
“Wabara knows the board is merely a shadow of itself, yet he continues to hold meetings across the country for personal gain rather than the party’s progress.”
In response, a BoT member, Senator Umar Ibrahim-Tsauri, acknowledged that some members’ tenures had expired but insisted that the board is acting within the party’s constitution to maintain stability.
“It’s true that some BoT members’ tenures have expired. But given the party’s current crisis, the board has relied on Section 32 (6) of the PDP constitution, which allows it to regulate its proceedings,” Ibrahim-Tsauri explained.
He added that the BoT had already directed state and zonal executives to nominate replacements for expired positions.
“The PDP is facing serious internal challenges, and it’s not surprising that some people are introducing distractions instead of working toward stability.
“You don’t expect experienced BoT members—some of whom are Senior Advocates of Nigeria—to knowingly engage in actions that would be deemed null and void.”