PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike’s Faction Names Mao Ohuabunwa as Board of Trustees Chairman

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has appointed Senator Mao Ohuabunwa as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

The appointment was announced and inaugurated on Friday in Abuja by the factional Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed.

Alongside Ohuabunwa, Hon. Isah Dansidi was named as the new BoT Secretary, replacing Senator Ahmed Makarfi. The two take over from Senator Adolphus Wabara and Makarfi, who were removed over what the faction described as a need to maintain neutrality and integrity within the party’s leadership structure.

A communique jointly signed by Ohuabunwa and Dansidi stated that Wabara and Makarfi could no longer continue in their roles due to their publicly declared positions amid the ongoing intra-party feud.

“The Board noted that the immediate past BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, having publicly taken positions in the ongoing intra-party crisis, can no longer continue to serve in their previous capacities in order to preserve the neutrality, integrity, and moral authority of the BoT,” the statement read.

The BoT said the appointments were made in line with the need to sustain regional balance, with Ohuabunwa from the South and Dansidi from the North, mirroring the regional structure of their predecessors.

In the communique, the faction expressed appreciation to Wabara and Makarfi for their service to the party, wishing them success in their future endeavours.

The new BoT pledged its commitment to promoting reconciliation, inclusiveness, and internal democracy within the PDP, urging members to put the party’s unity and progress above personal or group interests.

“The Board reaffirms that genuine reconciliation and cooperation remain the bedrock of sustainable peace and collective advancement within the PDP,” the communique stated.

It also emphasized adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines, and the PDP Constitution as the guiding principles for the party’s democratic process.

“Only through transparency, inclusiveness, and respect for institutional values can the PDP continue to serve as a custodian of Nigeria’s democratic ideals,” the statement added.

This development further underscores the deepening leadership rift within the PDP, as factions continue to battle for control ahead of the next election cycle.