Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Peoples Democratic Party State Working Committee in Abia State has expelled former Senate President Adolphus Wabara from the party, following an investigation into his suspension for alleged anti-party activities. The decision was made during an emergency meeting after receiving the Disciplinary Committee's report. The committee cited Wabara's endorsement of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for a second term in office as an act of disloyalty to the party. Wabara had not issued any statement regarding his expulsion, but the Abia chapter insisted on his expulsion.The party asked the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to act swiftly by appointing an acting chairman for the Peoples Democratic Party  Board of Trustees. The Abia State Executive Committee recommended the immediate appointment of an Acting Board of Trustees Chairman by the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee. The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party has escalated, with former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, Senator Anyanwu, and others failing to attend the National Disciplinary Committee led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi. The committee held its session in Abuja on February 6, and the identities of the other 10 invitees remain undisclosed.Since the 2023 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party has been embroiled in internal conflicts, with members accusing others of undermining the party's interests and calling for disciplinary measures. The Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee established a disciplinary committee on August 21 to allow members to file complaints, hear both sides, and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and several political parties have strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for failing to practice inclusive governance, pointing to a persistent pattern of uneven political appointments that favor certain regions over others and violate the constitutional principle of federal character. Although the presidency attempted to defend its record by releasing a geographical breakdown of appointments, the list faced immediate backlash for being incomplete and omitting key high ranking officials from the South West region, which critics argue only exposed deep seated regional imbalance and nepotism. Opposition leaders warned that promoting such ethnocentrism and favoritism in a diverse country like Nigeria threatens national unity, peace, and stability, cautioning that the administration's exclusionary approach is pushing the nation toward unnecessary division.

The Peoples Democratic Party has postponed its zonal congresses for the North-Central, South-South, and South-West regions, which were originally scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2025. This decision was made by the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to show solidarity with the government and people of Plateau State following recent tragic killings, and to allow governors from the affected regions to attend a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum in Ibadan. Following the adjustment, the South-West zonal congress has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 2025, while new dates for the North-Central and South-South congresses will be announced later, with the existing caretaker committee continuing to oversee the South-South region in the meantime.

The Peoples Democratic Party is currently navigating a severe internal crisis characterized by deep leadership disputes, bitter factional disagreements, and a damaging wave of high profile defections that has seen prominent governors and senators abandon the platform for the ruling All Progressives Congress party. In response to these mounting challenges that threaten its political future ahead of upcoming national elections, the party established a special reconciliation committee led by a former senate president Bukola Saraki to mediate internal feuds, address contentious administrative vacancies such as the disputed national secretary position, and mend fractured relationships among key stakeholders. While some senior party figures express grave concern that the opposition platform is in a critical condition and risks total collapse without immediate and effective interventions, other optimistic leaders maintain that the current turmoil is merely temporary turbulence and that the party will successfully resolve its internal grievances, restore structural discipline, and emerge stronger to reposition itself for future electoral success.

The Peoples Democratic Party is currently facing a severe internal crisis as factions struggle for control over the party's leadership and regional structure. Tensions have peaked following a dispute over the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee, with loyalists of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike rejecting the appointments made by the National Working Committee and questioning the legitimacy of those overseeing party affairs. This internal division is compounded by the repeated postponement of the National Executive Committee meeting—now delayed until May—which leaders claim is necessary due to ongoing litigation regarding the position of the National Secretary. While some officials argue that recent actions were taken to stabilize the party and prevent a leadership vacuum, others, including the National Vice Chairman for the South-South, Dan Orbih, have dismissed these decisions as unconstitutional and the result of personal agendas. As competing factions continue to issue conflicting directives and challenge each other’s authority in court, the party remains deeply fractured, leaving members and stakeholders concerned about the future stability and unity of the organization.