Ohuabunwa Emerges PDP Factional BoT Chairman as Wike-Led Camp Dissolves Wabara’s Leadership

The lingering crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic new turn on Friday as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced the dissolution of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Senator Adolphus Wabara. The faction cited “loss of credibility, moral authority, and constitutional alignment” as reasons for the move.

The decision was reached at a meeting hosted by Wike at his Life Camp official residence in Abuja, where Senator Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa from Abia State was unveiled as the new BoT Chairman, while Hon. Isah Dansidi from the North was appointed Secretary. The meeting, presided over by factional Acting National Chairman Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, also urged compliance with a recent Federal High Court order halting the PDP’s planned national convention.

Muhammad described the reconstitution as part of efforts to restore “discipline, order, and moral direction” within the party. He accused the Wabara-led BoT of failing in its moral duty, saying its leadership had “lost the credibility expected of a body that should serve as the conscience of the PDP.” He further blamed the tenure of suspended National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, for the party’s “moral decline and disregard for judicial authority.”

A Call for Rebirth PDP and Rule of Law

In his remarks, Muhammad emphasised that the new BoT would serve as a “symbol of rebirth” and a “compass” for the PDP’s return to integrity and internal democracy. He lamented that the PDP began to lose its moral direction when it abandoned its zoning principle before the 2015 general elections, allowing personal ambition to override equity and justice.

“We will rebuild this party with transparency. We will respect court judgements and the rule of law. We will conduct our congresses with fairness and integrity,” Muhammad said. He stressed that internal party autonomy must operate within the limits of the constitution, warning that “party independence cannot mean lawlessness.”

The meeting also featured contributions from elder statesman and founding PDP member, Senator Jim Nwobodo, who urged members to embrace reconciliation and unity. He commended Wike for his performance as FCT Minister and encouraged him to channel the same energy toward rebuilding the PDP. “If you put that same effort into this party, PDP will be the party to beat again,” Nwobodo said.

New BoT Issues Communiqué, Pledges Unity and Compliance with Court Orders

At the end of the meeting, the newly reconstituted BoT issued a seven-point communiqué reaffirming its commitment to constitutional order, unity, and lawful conduct. Signed by Ohuabunwa and Dansidi, the statement declared that the PDP remains “one indivisible, united and democratic family firmly committed to the ideals of justice, equity and progress.”

The communiqué directed all party organs to comply fully with the Federal High Court’s judgement of October 31, 2025, and warned against any action taken in contempt of court. It further urged that the proposed National Convention be postponed pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.

Acknowledging the services of the outgoing BoT leadership, the new Board pledged to act as the party’s moral conscience, promoting fairness, inclusivity, and reconciliation. It called on all PDP members and stakeholders, both at home and abroad, to close ranks in rebuilding the party’s credibility. “The Board of Trustees pledges to continuously uphold its sacred responsibility as the conscience of the PDP – speaking truth with fairness, guiding with integrity, and ensuring that our great party remains a beacon of democracy and hope for the nation,” the communiqué stated.