Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has stated that the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a critical juncture, insisting that the faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, “has no legal authority” to operate within the party’s structures.

Speaking on Tuesday from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Mohammed said the ongoing internal strife is now tilting in favour of the newly elected leadership, dismissing the Wike-aligned bloc as a “splinter group” with no legitimacy.

The PDP headquarters at Wadata Plaza became the epicentre of tension earlier in the day as rival factions sought to assert control.

On one side, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, along with the newly elected National Secretary Taofeek Arapaja and other leaders from the Oyo State convention, represented the party’s officially recognised leadership.

Opposing them was the Wike-backed faction led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who maintains that his tenure as National Secretary remains valid until December 8, 2025.

The Wike camp has repeatedly rejected the outcome of the Ibadan convention, describing it as illegitimate.

Tensions escalated when Governor Makinde and Arapaja arrived at the secretariat with party stakeholders, a move seen as a symbolic assertion of the authority of the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC).

Security was heightened as both camps attempted to access the meeting halls, forcing police officers to intervene to prevent a potential clash.

Governor Mohammed argued that the Ibadan convention, which produced the new NWC, had the full backing of the party’s highest decision-making organs, and that the Wike-aligned group lacked any constitutional or legal basis to challenge the outcome.

He said, “We don’t believe there is any Board of Trustees in this matter because that would be illegal. The media should help educate the public about proper political processes so that people understand where they stand. The so-called BoT meeting being attempted by this splinter group is a charade.”

Mohammed further stressed, “The BoT is constituted by the NWC. They don’t have an NWC and they don’t have a constitution. Our constitution is clear: if you are expelled, you are expelled.

This is not the decision of one individual; it is the outcome of a convention involving over 20 states. What you are seeing is a showdown between legitimate authority and illegalism.”

On the status of Anyanwu, Mohammed said, “The convention has already ended his tenure, so he cannot obstruct the NWC in any way.

The new chairman, Tanimu Turaki, is recognised by INEC because this is a legal matter. Claims to the contrary are driven by Wike, who continues to create unnecessary chaos in the political space.”

Mohammed accused the Wike faction of being supported by the police and the media, saying, “They are not a legitimate faction; they are a splinter group trying to destroy the PDP and weaken democracy. They are acting out of arrogance, ignorance, and impunity.”

He also addressed INEC’s role in the convention, noting, “The Constitution does not require INEC to attend party conventions. We notified them properly, and they acknowledged the notice. The convention is legal, and all court challenges have been dismissed.”

You May Like: PDP Crisis Deepens as Governors, Wike, Turaki Engage in Tense Showdown

On the potential resolution of the crisis, Mohammed said, “The hooliganism must stop. If they want to continue, they should leave us alone. Their actions are not only illegal but morally questionable, as they appear to be working with opposition forces to undermine the PDP.”

The governor’s remarks underscore the deep divisions within Nigeria’s main opposition party, highlighting a conflict that continues to dominate headlines and threaten party cohesion ahead of future political contests.