A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has set May 25 for the election of its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
The faction also fixed May 2, May 9, and May 16 for the conduct of state assembly, national assembly, and governorship primaries respectively.
The dates were endorsed on Wednesday during the faction’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Wike-aligned group announced April 10 as the deadline for submitting the party’s membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Members of the NEC commended the national caretaker working committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed for “stabilising the party and managing its affairs during the ongoing transitional period”.
The PDP NEC also expressed satisfaction with how ward and local government congresses were conducted across the country.
The faction said the state congresses scheduled for the weekend would take place peacefully and in full compliance with the PDP constitution.
The NEC further approved the conduct of zonal congresses within the next two weeks as part of preparations for the party’s national convention scheduled for March 28 and 29.
The group also praised the recent judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which nullified the national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The Wike-backed PDP faction called for reconciliation among party leaders and stakeholders, urging those involved in internal disputes to adopt dialogue and avoid further legal battles at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Speaking at the meeting, Wike said his group remained firmly in control of the party’s structure and would only negotiate from a position of strength.
The FCT minister said reconciliation within the PDP must be genuine and based on clear proposals from those seeking peace.
He warned against what he described as secret negotiations and urged party leaders to present their reconciliation terms openly.
Wike also dismissed claims that his role in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration makes him a “mole” within the PDP, noting that those who previously accused him of working with the ruling party have since left the opposition.
He insisted that the PDP national convention would proceed as planned, rejecting suggestions that a caretaker committee should be formed to pacify aggrieved members.
In his remarks, Abba Moro, the senate minority leader aligned with the faction supported by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, urged members to place the survival of the party above personal ambitions.
Moro said the PDP caucus in the national assembly had been working to promote unity within the party and had engaged different factions in search of common ground.
The senator called on party leaders to make sacrifices to safeguard the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.