PDP’s New Board of Trustees Elects Leaders, Calls for Convention Postponement

By Toyin Adebayo, Abuja

The newly reconstituted Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in an attempt to stabilize the party has called for an immediate postponement of its proposed National Convention, citing the need for judicial prudence amidst ongoing legal battles.

The resolution was part of several critical decisions reached during the board’s inaugural emergency meeting held in Abuja on Friday, where Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi were elected as the new Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the BoT asserted that proceeding with the convention would be premature while an appeal against the October 31 Federal High Court judgment—which paved the way for the board’s own reconstitution—remains pending.

“In view of the fact that the Federal High Court judgment has been appealed, prudence and respect for judicial processes demand that the proposed National Convention be postponed until the Court of Appeal delivers its decision,” the communiqué stated.

The board’s first major action signals its intent to position itself as the party’s moral and legal compass, directly intervening in a major calendar event to enforce constitutional order.

New Leadership Takes the Helm

The meeting also formalized a new leadership structure for the BoT. The communiqué clarified that the immediate past Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, were succeeded to preserve the board’s “neutrality, integrity, and moral authority,” having “publicly taken positions in the party’s internal crisis.”

In a move reflecting the party’s zoning tradition, Senator Ohuabunwa, from the South, and Hon. Dansidi, from the North, were unanimously elected to fill the vacant positions. The board expressed gratitude to the outgoing officers for their service.

A Firm Stance on Legal Supremacy

Reiterating its commitment to the rule of law, the BoT issued a stern warning to all party organs against acting in contempt of court. It emphatically declared that the Federal High Court judgment “remained superior and weightier in law” than any conflicting interim orders, a clear reference to a recent order from an Oyo State High Court.

“Any such action [in contempt of court] would render subsequent outcomes null and void,” the communiqué warned, directing full compliance with the Federal High Court’s ruling.

While supporting the goal of a “credible, transparent, and inclusive national convention,” the board conditioned it on strict adherence to the party’s constitution, electoral laws, and existing court pronouncements.

Pledging to Be the Party’s ‘Conscience’

Echoing the themes set forth by the Acting National Chairman last week, the newly inaugurated BoT pledged to act as the “conscience and stabilizing moral compass” of the PDP. It committed to actively mediating among stakeholders, promoting inclusivity, and preventing divisive tendencies.

“Genuine reconciliation and cooperation remain the bedrock of sustainable peace and collective advancement within the PDP,” the statement read, calling on all members to close ranks and uphold constitutionalism.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the new Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, and Secretary, Hon. Isah Dansidi, formally marking the beginning of their tenure tasked with steering the party through its current crisis.