PDP Leadership Crisis Deepens: INEC Recognizes Wike-Backed NWC as Makinde Faction Appeals to Supreme Court

INEC has updated its records to recognize the Wike-backed PDP leadership. The Makinde faction has dismissed the move and moved to the Supreme Court for a final ruling.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 9:19 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

INEC Updates Leadership Records Amidst Factional Warfare

In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognized the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. A check of the commission's official website on March 30, 2026, reveals that Abdulrahman Mohammed is now listed as the National Chairman, with Senator Samuel Anyanwu serving as National Secretary. This administrative update follows the factional National Convention held on Sunday, March 29, effectively granting legal and regulatory legitimacy to the Wike-aligned camp over its rivals.

Makinde Faction Labels Convention a "Jamboree"

The PDP faction loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde has reacted with fierce opposition to the INEC update. National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong issued a statement dismissing the Wike-backed convention as a "pre-Easter jamboree of APC sympathisers." The Makinde camp argues that the gathering was held in direct contempt of a pending Court of Appeal order. They maintain that the process leading to the election of the Mohammed-led NWC was flawed and intended to "foist a one-party state" on Nigeria. Ememobong urged party members to remain calm, asserting that the battle for the "soul of the party" is far from over.

Judicial Battles: From High Court to the Supreme Court

The leadership tussle took another dramatic turn Monday morning when Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment in favor of the Wike-backed faction. The court granted the Mohammed-led NWC full access to the PDP national secretariat (Wadata Plaza) and directed security agencies to provide them with protection during their occupation of the premises. In response, the Makinde faction has instructed its legal team to file an immediate appeal against this judgment. They have also escalated the broader leadership dispute to the Supreme Court, hoping for an expedited hearing to resolve the question of what constitutes "internal party affairs."