- The Sokoto chapter of the PDP has announced a boycott of the Abuja national convention organised by a Wike-aligned faction
- The state leadership insisted that it remains neutral and does not recognise any faction within the party
- Sokoto PDP also confirmed it previously avoided the Ibadan convention for the same reason
The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared that it will not participate in the upcoming national convention in Abuja organised by a faction aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The decision underscores the chapter’s firm stance on neutrality as internal divisions continue to plague the opposition party.
In a telephone interview on Saturday, March 28, with the PUNCH, the Sokoto PDP Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sanyinawal, made it clear that the state chapter does not recognise any faction within the party, stressing that this position informed its decision to stay away from the convention.
“We are not attending the convention in Abuja, just as we refused to attend the Ibadan convention.
We are members of the PDP, but we do not belong to any faction. So, we will not be part of the convention,” he said.
The Abuja gathering is being organised by a faction widely believed to be loyal to Wike, further highlighting the deepening cracks within the PDP’s national structure.
The party has been engulfed in a prolonged leadership crisis, with tensions escalating after the controversial 2025 convention held in Ibadan.
That exercise was later nullified by a court due to procedural irregularities, including non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
Since then, the PDP has splintered into rival blocs, each laying claim to legitimacy and control. One faction is reportedly aligned with Wike, while the other remains loyal to the previously recognised leadership.
Both camps have continued to push for dominance through parallel conventions and strategic alignments, worsening the internal rift.
Despite repeated calls for reconciliation by party stakeholders, the crisis shows little sign of resolution.
Political observers warn that the sustained division could weaken the PDP’s standing as Nigeria’s main opposition party, especially as the country inches closer to future electoral contests.