A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected the 103rd National Executive Committee meeting and the interim National Working Committee ratified by the rival bloc led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The Makinde-backed faction held its 103rd NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday, where it approved a 13-member caretaker committee chaired by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. Other members include Hamza Akuyam Koshe, Daniel Woyenikuro, Richard Ihediwa, Isa Abubakar, Okechekwu Obiechina Daniel, Theophilus Dakas Shan, Ini Ememobong, Aribisala Adewale Idowu, Bara’u Shafi, Anthonia Chinenyenwa, Umar Dan Aji, with former Oyo Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja as secretary. The motion was moved by Edo State PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi and seconded by Clement Fagboyede.

Speaking after the meeting, Governor Makinde said the interim NWC was lawfully constituted and insisted the meeting was convened by two-thirds of committee members. He described the situation as “a battle for democracy, for plurality in Nigeria’s democratic space,” adding, “We will not give up. We will keep pushing on.”

The Wike-backed PDP, however, dismissed the NEC meeting as unauthorized and called claims of an interim NWC “baseless and without legal standing.” PDP Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed said Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu remain the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively.

The leadership dispute follows an April 30 Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Makinde-backed PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15-16, 2025, which produced the Turaki-led leadership. The court, in a 3-2 decision, held that the convention violated existing orders restraining the party from proceeding until specific conditions were met.

Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara said the BoT intervened after the judgment left the party without recognized leadership. He noted that the trustees acted under the PDP constitution to restore stability and would secure a two-thirds majority to convene a NEC meeting to set up a caretaker committee.

At its subsequent 104th NWC meeting, the Makinde faction unveiled its 2027 election timetable. Sale of expression of interest and nomination forms will run from May 5 to May 13, 2026, with submission due by May 14. Screening of aspirants is scheduled for May 15-18, appeals on May 21, and publication of cleared aspirants on May 22. Ward primaries are set for May 27, with appeals on May 28. NEC will meet on May 29 to approve nominated candidates, while a special convention for ratification is fixed for May 30.

The faction pegged presidential forms at ₦100 million and governorship forms at ₦40 million. Senate forms will cost ₦10 million, House of Representatives ₦7 million, and State Houses of Assembly ₦2 million. Female aspirants will pay only for expression of interest forms, while youths and persons with disabilities will receive a 50 percent discount on nomination forms.

The Wike-backed Mohammed-led NWC began selling its nomination forms on April 27, with the exercise slated to end on May 7.

INEC has scheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly polls for February 6, 2027. Party primaries and dispute resolution must occur between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will start on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns begin on September 9, 2026.