We have fought enough, it’s time to rebuild PDP, urges Wike…

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, says the Court of Appeal ruling affirming the annulment of the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, offers the party an opportunity to rebuild and restore unity among its members.

Wike, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Monday, March 9, 2026, maintained that the ruling confirmed that the convention conducted by the PDP in November 2025 could not stand because the party had failed to comply with statutory provisions guiding such activities.

According to him, the court’s decision reaffirmed the need for political parties to strictly comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the 2022 Election Law, as well as their internal rules and guidelines.

“When you don’t respect what the law says, it cannot stand. It doesn’t matter who is president or who is not. What matters is respect for the law,” Wike said.

The minister said the court ruled that necessary procedures, including holding valid congresses in some states and proper notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were not followed before the holding of the congress.

Wike added that once such legal requirements are ignored, the issue goes beyond the internal affairs of the party and becomes a matter of compliance with the law.

Wike also described the ruling as a significant moment for the PDP, saying it reaffirmed the supremacy of due process and the rule of law.

“Today is one of my happiest days because, as a party that claims to uphold democratic principles, we must not condone impunity. We must follow due process and allow the rule of law to prevail,” he said.

Wike recalled that he had previously warned that actions taken in violation of the law would eventually be quashed by the courts.

“You cannot rely on money or power and assume that because you are a governor or a powerful figure that you can do anything. I thank God that the law has spoken,” he added.

The minister urged PDP members to use the ruling as an opportunity to rebuild unity within the party rather than prolong internal disputes through legal battles.

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“For me, it is an opportunity for the party to come back together. We have fought enough. It is time to abandon personal interests and see how we can move the party forward,” Wike said.

Wike stressed the need for the PDP to remain strong as a credible opposition party in the country.

“The PDP remains the only strong opposition party we have. What we should do now is to put our own house in order so that the party can continue to play its role effectively,” he said.

He further explained that with the Court having affirmed the invalidity of the Ibadan Convention, the leadership structure that emerged from the exercise could no longer be recognised.

According to him, the party had already formed a provisional arrangement to manage its affairs pending the holding of a valid national convention.

Wike disclosed that the PDP leadership is working to organize a new national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2026, where new national officials would be elected in accordance with the law and the party constitution.

Wike said the conference would be held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome in Abuja, adding that arrangements for the exercise had already been made.

“We have already established the National Caretaker Committee. When the mandate of the National Working Committee expired, we said that the law does not allow a vacuum. The Caretaker Committee was recognized by the Federal High Court to manage the party until the election of new officials,” he said.

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