Peoples Democratic Party South-West Faction Installs New Leadership Amid Escalating Legal Battle At The Supreme Court

The Wike-backed PDP faction elects Deji Doherty as South-West Chairman while the Turaki-led group appeals to the Supreme Court ahead of the 2026 convention.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 11:13 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Peoples Gazette

A Decisive Leadership Shift In The South-West Corridor

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has inaugurated a fresh zonal working committee for its South-West chapter following a contentious regional congress at the Lagos Airport Hotel. Deji Doherty emerged as the new Zonal Chairman, heading a team that includes Secretary Oluwole Omotaje and Treasurer Obe Gbolaro. According to Akinloye Oyeniyi, the newly elected Zonal Publicity Secretary, the transition was framed as a necessary step toward stabilizing the party’s regional influence ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. This move represents a strategic consolidation of power for the faction currently aligned with the party's national leadership, aiming to present a unified front in a historically volatile political zone.

The Abuja Convention And The Wike Influence

The newly formed committee has moved quickly to endorse the upcoming national convention in Abuja, scheduled to commence on March 29. In a formal communiqué, the South-West stakeholders expressed their support for the leadership of Nyesom Wike, characterizing him as the national leader holding the party together during its transitional phase. According to Mr. Oyeniyi, the convention is intended to serve as a showcase of the party's residual strength and its status as Nigeria's largest opposition entity. This public alignment underscores a deepening internal division, as the South-West leadership formally tethers its future to the Wike-backed national structure.

Legal Escalation At The Apex Court

While the Lagos congress proceeded with its elective agenda, a significant legal challenge was mounted by a rival faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. This group, led by Tanimu Turaki, has officially resolved to appeal a recent Court of Appeal judgment regarding the party’s leadership at the Supreme Court. According to National Secretary Ini Ememobong, the faction has filed for an accelerated hearing to protect the legal standing of their leadership claims. This escalation suggests that despite the appearances of regional elective success, the fundamental question of who controls the PDP’s national machinery remains a matter for judicial determination.