Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has congratulated the factional acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Abdulrahman, urging him to move quickly to unite the party and restore peace amid growing internal divisions.

Abdulrahman was appointed Acting National Chairman of the PDP following the suspension of the National Chairman, Umar Damagum; National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo; and three other officials over allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities.

Earlier, the faction of the National Working Committee loyal to Damagum had announced the suspension of the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and two other members.

However, Fayose, in a Saturday statement, urged the factional acting National Chairman to work as a team player and promptly conduct a valid National Convention after completing all pending state and zonal congress.

The former governor said the PDP was in dire need of a new direction and the new Acting National Chairman should step in immediately to provide it.

He stated, “I congratulate the new chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman. I urge him to unite the party and restore confidence in its members.

“Most importantly, he should look into the shenanigans and injustice done in States like Ekiti and others with a view to correcting them in accordance with the party constitution and existing court pronouncements.

“He should also be a team player and ensure the emergence of a new National Working Committee through a valid National Convention, which should be done immediately after outstanding congresses are held in states and zones, and those done against court judgements are revisited.”

Although the PDP had scheduled its National Elective Convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the party remains mired in internal crises. Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have continued to express discontent with Damagum’s leadership, citing lingering disputes over the South-South zonal leadership and the control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States.

Tensions have also intensified due to disagreements surrounding the micro-zoning arrangement ahead of the convention, further dividing the party. These unresolved issues eventually led to a legal challenge aimed at stopping the planned convention.
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with the exercise until further notice.

The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 and presided over by Justice James Omotosho, directed the PDP to halt the convention until it complies fully with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved party members: Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the South-South Zonal Secretary.
They contended that the proposed convention contravened both the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution, alleging that the party failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before announcing the convention.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho upheld their position, stating that the PDP violated its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC guidelines by neglecting to hold proper state congresses and failing to provide the statutory 21-day notice to INEC.

Consequently, the court ordered that the convention be suspended until all internal irregularities are duly rectified in line with the law.