PDP Reaffirms National Convention Will Hold in Ibadan, Says Decision Is Sacrosanct

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reiterated its resolve to go ahead with its forthcoming National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, scheduled for November 2025, declaring that the date and venue remain sacrosanct despite internal disagreements and rising tensions among party stakeholders. The party made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the 110-member National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), presided over by the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum. In his remarks, Damagum emphasised that the party would not shift its position on the convention, noting that the decision was non-negotiable. He, however, assured that the leadership was still committed to reconciliation and consensus-building to accommodate all interests within the party. The NCOC, chaired by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as vice-chairman, has been tasked with overseeing preparations, including logistics, accreditation, and coordination to ensure a smooth exercise. The announcement comes amid disagreements from some party leaders, particularly the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has openly distanced himself from the convention plan, claiming he was not carried along and vowing to challenge the arrangement. Despite this, PDP governors and other key stakeholders have expressed strong support for the party leadership, warning that any attempt to derail the process will not be tolerated. They maintain that the convention is critical to repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The PDP has also recently cautioned its members against publicly endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election, warning that such actions amount to anti-party activities and will attract sanctions. Supporters of the November convention argue that it will help the party resolve lingering leadership questions, fine-tune zoning arrangements, and unify its structure, while critics fear the plan may deepen existing cracks. Political observers have warned that failure to achieve consensus could risk parallel conventions or trigger legal disputes capable of weakening the party ahead of 2027. For now, the party leadership has made its stance clear—the PDP National Convention will hold in Ibadan in November as planned, and there will be no going back on the decision.