PDP commences plans for primaries, directs states to adhere to timetable

…Wike urges party to set up reconciliation Committee

Ahead of the May 30th dead line for the submission of list of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, the Wike led Peoples Democratic Party, has announced the commencement of plans for the party’s primaries nationwide

The party stated this in a Communique after the 108th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), on Monday, at the Party’s National Secretariat, Abuja,

The party said this was part of the critical decisions taken after the exhaustive deliberation at the NEC meeting

The INEC had approved the 30th of May, 2026 for the conclusion of the primaries of political parties, in line with section 84 of the 2026 Electoral Act.

Recall that the Wike led faction had conducted a national convention where the current National Working Committee NWC, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed as Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary

The party had since then, commenced efforts to consolidate its structures, as well as efforts at reconciling party members, strengthen unity, and collective responsibility among all leaders, stakeholders, and members of the Party.

The party reiterated that the strength of the PDP lies in its ability to resolve internal disagreements through dialogue, mutual respect, and strict adherence to established Party structures and democratic principles.

The Monday NEC which is the 108, adopted the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of Party primaries, including the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, in line with the revised schedule for the 2027 General Elections

The party also stressed the need for strict compliance with the approved timetable to ensure a transparent, credible, and hitch-free nomination process

The PDP noted that the proposed schedule of activities was in accordance with the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including the submission of the Party’s Register of Members, conduct of primaries for various elective positions, and urged the states to adherence to timelines for the resolution of disputes arising from such primaries.

“NEC directed all relevant organs of the Party to ensure full compliance with INEC regulations and guidelines.

The NEC also urged all organs, leaders, and stakeholders of the Party at all levels to immediately commence the necessary preparations for the forthcoming state primaries.
The party called on all members ” to remain disciplined, loyal, and committed to the ideals and objectives of the PDP. It urged members to place the collective interest of the Party above personal ambitions and to work together to consolidate the Party’s position as the leading democratic platform in Nigeria.

“NEC commended the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) led by Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed for its dedication, commitment, and proactive efforts in stabilizing the Party and providing purposeful leadership since the conclusion of the National Convention.

The party expressed confidence in the capacity of the NWC to continue steering the affairs of the Party towards greater unity, growth, and electoral success.

On the issue of unity, “NEC emphasized that the PDP remains a strong, united, and formidable political party, firmly stating that it is not a party in distress, adding that” the era of uncertainty is over and reaffirmed that the PDP stands united as one big family”

Nyesom Wike, the National Leader of the party in his speech urged the NWC members to immediately inaugurate a reconciliation committee to woo other members back to the party

” So let us not say that they have defected, let them go, No. Chairman and your team, make sure you put up a strong committee that will still go ahead and talk to those who have defected. And whatever is due to them, they will still have it. Most of them may have defected because of uncertainty. If like, I want to run an election, and I’m not sure who will sign my documents to be presented to INEC.

“So most people will definitely find where they can get succor. But now, if you go and talk to them, I believe they will have a rethink and continue to support this party.

Wike assured that he will continue to support the party ” I’ll continue to support the party. I will continue to be loyal to the party. Since, 1998 till now, I’ve been a member of the PDP, and I will not leave the party. That is the truth of the matter.

“Let us also assure those of you who have said, believing that there is a matter in the court. I believe that our lawyers are doing great work, and I want to leave it for our lawyers, we are confident that our lawyers have been doing great work. God, who has led on this far, can never abandon us. So if God wanted to abandon us, we wouldn’t have started winning.

He also pleaded with the party leadership to “show difference under what is to happen. Let’s be open and transparent. Let people know indeed we are serious to correct some anomalies or mistakes that previous leadership may have made.

“Nobody is perfect. What will happen is that if there are people coming back, people will praise you that indeed you are doing this for the party.

*But if people are not coming back, then we are going to ask some question, what are you doing? So please, I want to plead with you. Show transparency, show openness, so that we’ll get whatever we want to get.”
End

Wike’s Speech at the 108 PDP NEC meeting.

Let me first of all congratulate Mr. Chairman and his team for their emergence at the last concluded National Convention.

Let us congratulate you that after inauguration, you took steps to make sure that we reclaim our secretariat, which is where we are sitting today. What shows that you are the authentic PDP is because you are holding your meeting at the National Secretariat. If there is any other PDP, let them come to the national Secretariat and hold their own meeting.

So I want to sincerely thank you for that bold step you took, instead of us hiring hotels and other areas, you made sure that we reclaimed our national Secretariat. I thank you and members of your team.

Let me use opportunity to also say that all of us, having the debate, that for whatever that happens, we will continue to remain as members of the People’s Democratic Party. I know in life there must be a period of crisis. Nothing, nobody can say that in his family or her family, everything has been going on smoothly. No, sometimes it will be rough. It is the ability for you to withstand those challenges. I thank God. By grace of God, we have had our period of crisis. Now we are together to make sure this party moves forward.

I want to commend all of you, the leaders for being faithful and committed. In fact, for all temptation for you to have abandoned your party, you said no, that you continue to be here. I want to thank all of you. That shows people who are loyal, that shows you want to remain a member of this party. I thank you so much.
Just like other speakers have said, now we are together, we must not stop at reconciliation, the more the merrier.