The Acting Factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, has reaffirmed the legitimacy of his leadership, insisting that there is only one recognised PDP under his chairmanship.
Speaking during a meeting of the National Caretaker Committee in Abuja on Thursday December 18, 2025, Mohammed expressed appreciation to the party’s leadership, the Board of Trustees, and the leader of the party, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for entrusting his team with the responsibility of managing the party’s affairs.
“We were given a 60-day mandate as a caretaker committee to take care of the activities of our great party across the Federation. We are here to ensure that the PDP remains stable, organised, and in line with the constitution of the party and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Mohammed urged party members and the general public not to be alarmed by reports of parallel meetings and activities, stressing that the PDP remains united.
“The public should not panic. There is only one PDP under my leadership and that of my team as the National Caretaker Committee,” he declared.
INEC Recognition Dispute
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the factional National Caretaker Committee stated that the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) lacks the credibility required for recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mohammed dismissed claims circulating in the media that the Turaki-led executive had been accepted by INEC, describing them as false.
“We challenge Tanimu Turaki to produce the code with which he uploaded his so-called executives to the INEC portal,” he said.
The committee also warned individuals and groups engaging in actions capable of bringing the image of the party into disrepute to desist forthwith.
State Congresses and Party Restructuring
The Caretaker Committee approved a calendar for the conduct of state congresses, expected to commence from January 9, 2026, while noting that the national convention will be held shortly after the completion of the state congresses.
However, Mohammed clarified that the exact date for the national convention has not yet been fixed.
“The national convention date will only be determined after the conclusion of the state congresses,” he explained.
The committee further announced the dissolution of the State Working Committees in the following states: Borno, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta, Taraba, Kano, and Lagos, while confirming the establishment of caretaker committees in those states.
Assignment of Portfolios
To enhance efficiency, the National Caretaker Committee also assigned portfolios to some of its members: Professor Adenike Ogunse – Women Leader, Engineer Deji Dohati – Deputy National Secretary, Senator Olaka Ogunwu – Treasurer, Hon. Jungu Haruna Mohammed – National Publicity and Ambassador Dr. Ibrahim Bala-Aboki – Youth Leader
Responding to questions from journalists, the committee disclosed that the timetable for the state congresses will be released soon, while reiterating that all actions of the caretaker committee are in line with the PDP constitution and Nigerian law.
The committee concluded by assuring party members that the PDP remains strong, united, and indivisible.