By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatening to undo reconciliation efforts as a powerful bloc loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, rejected a rival faction’s plan to hold a national convention. The move has intensified the leadership tussle between Governor Makinde’s camp and supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The conflict came to a head on Saturday during the party’s 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where the Makinde-aligned group dismissed the convention scheduled for March 28–29, 2026, by the Wike-backed faction. The Wike camp, however, insists the convention will proceed as planned, arguing that the current National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, lacks legitimacy.

The faction loyal to the FCT Minister has already conducted ward, local government, and state congresses, positioning its upcoming Abuja convention as a move to install a new NWC. Party insiders say the group has intensified mobilisation across several states, engaging delegates and stakeholders to secure support for the exercise.

Proponents of the convention describe it as a “reset” aimed at producing a more assertive and electorally competitive leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the convention dispute, the crisis reflects a fundamental struggle over who holds legitimate authority within the opposition party. The two camps remain deeply divided over reconciliation efforts and the strategic direction of the PDP, raising concerns about the party’s ability to present a united front in time for the next election cycle.

Tensions were laid bare during the NEC meeting, which had been delayed for weeks to allow for broader consultations. In attendance were key party leaders, including National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN; Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; House of Representatives caucus leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi; Chairman of PDP State Chairmen, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi; and National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.

Opposition to the planned convention was swift and unequivocal, particularly from state party leaders who accused the Wike-aligned camp of sidelining broader party structures.

“You must have consultation. You must bring more people to the table when you are sharing those positions,” Aziegbemi said. “Here we are, with just one person, or at most two people, presenting us with a list of members of the National Working Committee of our great party. Will you allow that to happen?”

He added: “Which convention? Where did we decide that we are going for a convention? Who agreed to go to that convention? For us at the level of state chairmen, we want to assure you that we will go nowhere, that we will stand with you, no matter what happens.”

Addressing reporters after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong denied knowledge of any impending convention, while cautioning against public commentary that could further fracture the party.

“Talking about the convention, there’s no convention coming up to our knowledge,” Ememobong said. “But we will not begin to deconstruct that because that would be an inconvenient truth, and we cannot be saying those inconvenient truths at this point in public.”

On reconciliation, Ememobong acknowledged progress while noting the journey is far from over. “Reconciliation is a journey towards a destination, and so you measure it by movement. Movement is being made along that line. The destination will be met. We have a situation of negative peace at the moment—at least a cessation of hostilities.”

National Chairman Turaki underscored the party’s commitment to due process, explaining the NEC meeting was intended to assess developments carefully before taking decisive action.

“We felt it was important to examine these developments microscopically so that we can take informed decisions, not only to save and strengthen our party, but to ensure that multi-party democracy survives,” Turaki said. “All hope is not lost. Indeed, no hope is lost.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru have been returned as national chairman and national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively.

Yilwatda and Basiru were elected on Friday at the fourth elective national convention of the APC held at Eagle Square, Abuja.

The party’s convention election committee announced their election as part of several officials returned via consensus.

Last week, the ruling party said it would retain the existing zoning arrangement for national working committee (NWC) positions during its national convention.

In a statement, Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the APC, said the arrangement is contained in the party’s published schedule of nationwide congresses, national convention, and related activities for 2026.

He said the zoning formula for NWC positions across states within the geopolitical zones remains valid for the convention.

Morka advised aspirants seeking national offices in the party to adhere strictly to the zoning arrangement.

In furtherance of this decision, both Yilwatda and Basiru were returned unopposed for the national chairman and secretary positions, respectively.

The convention, themed “Unity in progres: Consolidating the renewed hope agenda,” was attended by President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, among other party chieftains.

The convention was organised by a planning committee led by Aminu Masari, former governor of Katsina, and Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

According to Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, about 8,453 delegates are participating in the convention.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Following the release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, a growing number of netizens have alleged that his detention was politically motivated and aimed at humiliation rather than justice. The former governor was released hours after the news of his mother’s death broke, prompting accusations of undue hardship from several public commentators.

Among those speaking out are Barrister Abba Hikima, Stanley Chinonso, and Imran U Wakili, who took to social media to question the timing and rationale behind the release.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Imran U Wakili argued that the former governor’s detention was never about criminal allegations but was intended to degrade him. He noted that El-Rufai was held throughout the 30 days of Ramadan and was not permitted to bid farewell to his late mother while in custody.

“The sudden release of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai shows that they were only keeping him to humiliate him, not because he committed any crime,” Wakili wrote. He added that while the release—coming in time for the funeral—suggests “a little conscience” on the part of authorities, it also underscores what he described as unjust treatment.

Echoing similar sentiments, Stanley Chinonso described the former governor’s detention as politically driven. “This simply shows the federal government does not have any case against him; they are just trying to hold him down because they felt he’s a threat to them. For Tinubu, he has just saved face because he would have lost the case in court. We are watching,” Stanley wrote.

Barrister Abba Hikima offered a legal perspective, pointing to the absence of formal judicial proceedings that would typically precede a release. He noted that El-Rufai was neither granted bail by the court nor had his bail conditions reviewed—standard legal pathways to release.

“Well, none of that has happened. And Nasir El-Rufa’i has been released. Does this show there was cruelty and violation in refusal to release him from the beginning?” Hikima posted.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu have all extended condolences to El-Rufai over the passing of his mother. The messages, shared publicly, have drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some users dismissing them as indicative of a closed political circle.

El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count charge related to alleged conversion of public property and money laundering. He appeared before a Federal High Court in Kaduna, which had adjourned his bail application until March 31.

The former governor was released shortly after news broke of his mother’s death in Cairo, Egypt. He has consistently denied all allegations against him.