Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emphasized the need for genuine unity and reconciliation within the party as it gears up for its 2026 National Convention, scheduled for March 29 and 30 in Abuja.
The call came during the inauguration of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee on Saturday night in Abuja. Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who chairs the committee, addressed party members and stakeholders, urging them to move past internal crises and legal battles to rebuild a stronger, more united platform ahead of future elections.
Mohammed described the event as more than a routine inauguration, framing it as the start of a renewal process rooted in shared destiny and hope. He highlighted the party’s resilience through over a year of complex legal and judicial challenges, stating that the PDP has emerged “refined” and positioned as a “beautiful bride” ready to reclaim its place in Nigerian politics.
He referenced the recent Court of Appeal judgment—viewed as a “no victor, no vanquished” outcome—as a philosophical reminder that true success lies in collective survival and institutional continuity rather than individual triumphs. Mohammed reaffirmed the party’s openness to broader engagement and reconciliation, extending fellowship to all members and commending agents of peace, including National Leader and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, for their contributions to the current stability.
“The PDP remains a broad and accommodating platform, willing to reconcile and rebuild,” Mohammed said. He charged committee members with delivering an inclusive, legally compliant, and credible convention that adheres to the pillars of legality, legitimacy, and inclusiveness.
In his acceptance speech as committee chairman, Ikpeazu described the upcoming convention as a defining moment and a critical test of the PDP’s ability to overcome internal divisions and reassert itself as a major national force. He noted that the party has weathered prolonged crises and legal hurdles, but the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the National Caretaker Working Committee provides a “moral and political reset” and a second chance to restore confidence, due process, and internal democracy.
“History has handed us a second chance. We must not squander it,” Ikpeazu declared. He stressed that the convention must prioritize transparency, fairness, and integrity, ensuring every delegate and stakeholder sees justice not only done but visibly demonstrated.
Ikpeazu underscored reconciliation as imperative, calling for honest dialogue grounded in truth, sincerity, mutual respect, humility, and genuine forgiveness. He reminded members that the PDP is a national institution carrying the hopes of millions for justice, inclusion, and good governance, and failure is not an option.
PDP Acting National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, in his vote of thanks, described the party as a “big family” open to reconciliation and returnees. He expressed optimism that the convention would produce widely accepted leaders capable of positioning the PDP strongly for the 2027 general elections, assuring that the process would be inclusive and that INEC had witnessed key party activities.
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