The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified preparations for its forthcoming National Convention by inaugurating its Protocol Subcommittee, a critical unit tasked with ensuring smooth logistics and coordination during the convention.
The convention, scheduled to be held in Ibadan, Oyo State, from November 15 to 16, 2025, is expected to be a major turning point for the party as it seeks to reposition itself as a formidable opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event will also produce a new set of National Working Committee (NWC) members to steer the affairs of the party in the coming years.
The PDP, once Africa’s largest political party, has faced a series of internal crises, leadership tussles, defections, and electoral setbacks since losing power at the federal level in 2015.
However, recent moves by its national leadership indicate a renewed effort to rebuild party structures, restore internal cohesion, and rally its members nationwide toward a common purpose.
It is against this backdrop that the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), chaired by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, inaugurated the Protocol Subcommittee at the party’s Lagacy House in Abuja.
The subcommittee will handle crucial arrangements, including logistics for the arrival and accommodation of delegates, VIP reception, venue preparation, and coordination of other committees during the two-day convention.
Addressing members during the inauguration ceremony, Fintiri underscored the importance of the committee’s work, describing it as the “backbone of the convention.”
“We are here specifically to support you and to let you know that we see this committee as very important. That is why we took our time painstakingly to select men and women of calibre, former governors, ministers, senators, and other distinguished personalities,” he said.
He reminded members of the need for commitment, discipline, and transparency, assuring them of the main committee’s full support.
“One thing I want to assure you is that we still need a lot of commitment and sacrifice. The main committee will support this subcommittee because we know the strategic role you will play in delivering a successful convention in Ibadan,” he stated.
Fintiri, who is widely regarded as one of the party’s key organisers, also spoke passionately about his loyalty to the PDP, stressing that under his watch, the party will not falter.
“Apart from Islam, PDP is the next association I commit myself to. It has given me everything I have achieved in life, and under our leadership, we will not let this party down. People are already jittery because they can see the PDP rising again,” he declared.
He further assured party members that the convention process would be open and credible.
The list of delegates, he revealed, would be published in advance to enable aspirants to canvass support openly.
“We are not running a closed system. If you feel you are popular, go to Ibadan and test your strength. At the end of the day, those supported by the majority will emerge victorious,” he said.
Hitch-Free Convention
The Deputy Chairman of the Protocol Subcommittee, Senator Olalere Oyewunmi, pledged the committee’s readiness to deliver on its assignment, highlighting the calibre of its membership.
“Our committee is populated by experienced individuals, former governors, deputy governors, senators, commissioners, and senior party officials. This reflects the importance the party attaches to the coming elective convention. Successful conventions rely heavily on effective protocol arrangements, and we are determined to make this one seamless and rancour-free,” Oyewunmi said.
He explained that the committee had already begun coordinating with other subcommittees to ensure all aspects of the event are synchronised.
Oyo State is Ready
The Secretary of the Protocol Subcommittee, Mrs. Balogun Toyin, expressed confidence in Oyo State’s readiness to host thousands of PDP members and dignitaries from across Nigeria.
She noted that Ibadan has a long history of hosting major political gatherings and assured that all logistical, infrastructural, and security arrangements were being finalized in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
PDP’s Make-or-Break Moment
The Ibadan convention is seen by many political observers as a make-or-break moment for the PDP, which has struggled to maintain a united front since its 2023 presidential election loss.
The emergence of a new leadership through a transparent and well-organised convention is expected to send a strong signal about the party’s seriousness in challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Party insiders say the choice of Ibadan, a politically significant city with historical ties to many national movements, is also symbolic, as the PDP hopes to rally support from the South-West region where it has been seeking to regain lost ground.
As preparations intensify, the National Convention Organising Committee is expected to inaugurate other subcommittees in the coming weeks, including those on security, accreditation, transport, and media.