The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdulrahman Mohammed, has inaugurated the party’s 2026 National Convention Planning and organising Committee, charging members to deliver a credible, inclusive, and legally sound convention.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mohammed said the event marked the beginning of a critical process that would shape the party’s future leadership and direction.
“Today, we gather not merely to inaugurate a committee, but to set in motion a process that carries the weight of our collective destiny and the promise of renewal,” he said.
“You have been carefully selected to pilot affairs that will lead us to an all-inclusive, legally sound, and politically credible national convention.”
He acknowledged that the PDP had faced significant internal and legal challenges over the past year but noted that the party had emerged stronger and more united.
“Our journey has not been without challenges. Yet, through resilience and a shared commitment to unity, we have emerged not diminished, but refined,” he stated, describing the party as “renewed and ready to reclaim its rightful place in the national space”.
Mohammed also referred to the recent Court of Appeal judgement, characterising it as an outcome that upholds unity and institutional continuity.
He reaffirmed the party’s dedication to reconciliation, offering forgiveness to disgruntled members and embracing those who had returned to the fold.
He commended party leaders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for their roles in stabilising the party.
The National Chairman urged the committee to organise a convention scheduled for March 29–30, 2026, anchored in legality, legitimacy, and inclusiveness.
Committee Chairman Accepts Responsibility
Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee and former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, described his appointment as both an honour and a call to duty.
“Today is not just ceremonial; it is consequential,” Ikpeazu said. “This convention is more than a gathering—it is a reckoning, a test of whether the PDP can rise above its recent trials and reclaim its place in Nigeria’s political landscape.”
He acknowledged the internal crises and prolonged legal disputes that had tested the party but described the Court of Appeal ruling affirming the National Caretaker Working Committee as a turning point.
“It is not merely a legal victory; it is a moral and political reset. It offers us an opportunity to rebuild and reaffirm internal democracy,” he added.
Ikpeazu stressed that the committee’s responsibility goes beyond organising an event, noting that its success would be judged by the credibility of the process and outcomes.
“We are not here to manage a convention; we are here to deliver credibility. We must ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity so that every stakeholder leaves with confidence in the process,” he said.
He further drove home the importance of genuine reconciliation within the party, urging members to embrace unity, honesty, and mutual respect.
“Our mission is to deliver a smooth, transparent, and widely accepted convention that will produce a competent National Working Committee capable of repositioning the PDP for victory in the 2027 general elections,” he stated.
Vote of Thanks
In his vote of thanks, the PDP Acting National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver a successful convention.
He described the PDP as a “big family” open to all members, assuring that the party would remain inclusive and transparent in its processes.
Anyanwu also pledged that the convention would produce widely accepted leaders capable of strengthening the party and positioning it to field credible candidates in future elections.
“We are committed to a process where no aspirant will be unfairly disqualified. The PDP remains strong, united, and ready to move forward,” he said.
The PDP’s 2026 National Convention is expected to produce a new National Working Committee and set the tone for the party’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.