A significant new initiative is reportedly underway. It is spearheaded by prominent Nigerian political figures. These include former Senate President Bukola Saraki, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido. Their collective effort aims to rescue the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from what many stakeholders describe as “total destruction.” This dire situation stems from the party’s prolonged and deepening internal crisis.

The central proposal put forth is the formation of a National Caretaker Committee. This committee would manage the party’s affairs. Its mandate would last until a broadly acceptable national convention can be successfully organized.

This initiative is gaining rapid momentum. The PDP is currently grappling with multiple layers of crisis. For instance, the four-year tenure of the previous National Working Committee (NWC) is slated to end on December 10. Furthermore, the legitimacy of the new leadership, purportedly elected at the Ibadan convention last month under Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu, faces a strong legal challenge in court.

Checks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website reveal another layer of complexity. The recognized PDP leaders are Ambassador Umar Damagum as National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. This discrepancy creates significant legal ambiguity. It also highlights a critical lack of unified authority within the party structure.

Sources indicate that the Federal High Court’s upcoming ruling will likely invalidate the Ibadan convention. This is because the convention reportedly failed to meet crucial constitutional pre-convention conditions. Should a Caretaker Committee not be immediately constituted, the party faces the severe risk of being left without any legally recognized administrative structure.

If formed, the proposed Caretaker Committee would include representatives from all rival factions within the PDP. Its primary mandate would be to organize an inclusive national convention. This would ensure fair representation and a path forward for the party.

Electoral Risks and Legal Hurdles

The ongoing infighting and leadership vacuum are now directly jeopardizing the PDP’s ability to participate in crucial upcoming off-season governorship elections. Specifically, candidates might be excluded from the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State election and the August 8, 2026 Osun State election. INEC guidelines stipulate that only the National Chairman and National Secretary officially recognized by the Commission can receive the access code for uploading candidate details.

This creates a significant obstacle. Ambassador Damagum and Senator Anyanwu, the INEC-recognized leaders, belong to opposing factions. Damagum reportedly handed over leadership to Tanimu’s faction. Anyanwu is allied with Wike. This internal division severely complicates the party’s ability to obtain and utilize the essential access code. It thereby threatens its electoral future.

Indeed, the crisis is already having tangible consequences. It is reportedly the reason behind Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s alleged departure from the PDP. He is said to be seeking re-election under the Accord Party banner.

The Path Forward: Calls for Pragmatic Action

A meeting of concerned PDP stakeholders is reportedly scheduled for this week. The aim is to officially endorse the Caretaker Committee concept. Many view this as the sole “pragmatic way out” for the struggling party.

A source close to the developments revealed that Senator Bukola Saraki first proposed the National Caretaker Committee weeks ago. Saraki has been a key figure in reconciliation efforts. His loyalists, along with those allied with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former Jigawa Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido, have now significantly advanced this project. The source emphasized, “Efforts have reached a climax.” They added that the NWC’s tenure expires on December 10. The November 15 Ibadan gathering also has a legally invalid basis. Therefore, “the only pragmatic way out is for PDP to have a National Caretaker Committee.”

A PDP legislator in Abuja corroborated this sentiment. Speaking to The Nation, the legislator stated that all factions involved in the leadership dispute understand the implications. The Federal High Court’s next ruling will likely focus on the unfulfilled constitutional pre-convention conditions for the Ibadan convention. “Without the immediate constitution of a Caretaker Committee, the party may find itself in limbo,” the legislator warned.

The urgency of the situation is underscored by imminent deadlines. The access code for the Ekiti election was due for collection on November 10. The final upload deadline for candidate details is December 22. These critical timelines highlight the severe administrative crisis currently gripping the PDP.