The Peoples Democratic Party has fixed Tuesday, October 28, for the screening of aspirants vying for positions in its National Working Committee ahead of the elective national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, made this known in a statement on Thursday, noting that Monday, October 27, is the deadline for submission of completed Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to the committee’s secretariat in Abuja.
“The screening of all aspirants for various national offices in the 2025 PDP Elective National Convention has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025,” the statement said. “The exercise will hold at the National Convention Organising Committee Secretariat Conference Hall, Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja, at 2 p.m., while the screening appeal is slated for Thursday, October 30.”
Fintiri added that all aspirants, critical stakeholders, and party members should take note of the dates and be guided accordingly.
The development comes amid heightened political tension within the PDP as preparations intensify for the Ibadan convention, with zoning arrangements, court disputes, and allegations of forgery creating internal friction.
Earlier in the week, Northern PDP leaders endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman.
The decision, announced by Fintiri after a meeting of party leaders from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, followed weeks of consultations and negotiations across the region.
“We have reflected deeply and widely through consultations, and as we go to Ibadan for our national convention, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North — and by extension, Nigeria — as the Chairman of the PDP. That gentleman is K.T. Turaki, SAN,” Fintiri said.
He, however, clarified that the decision does not preclude other aspirants from contesting, describing the PDP as “an institution with mechanisms to resolve differences and manage internal competition.”
The endorsement follows the August 25 National Executive Committee meeting where the party zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the National Chairmanship position to the North.
The chairmanship slot was subsequently micro-zoned to the North-West.
Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has extensive experience in constitutional law, election litigation, and international arbitration.
Despite the consensus arrangement, tensions remain high among stakeholders, particularly loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who have expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
Disputes over control of the party’s South-South structures and the micro-zoning of other key offices have reportedly deepened divisions.
The party’s internal crisis has also spilled into the courts. In a suit before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja (FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/25), PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia States accused the Damagum-led NWC of violating the party’s constitution and internal election guidelines. The case, adjourned to October 30, has seen disputes over legal representation between the party’s Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
Adding to the confusion, PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), denying that he signed the August 29 notification letter to INEC announcing the convention. He also demanded a probe into what he described as forgery.
The party has, however, dismissed Anyanwu’s claims, insisting that preparations for the convention remain on course.
Present at the Northern leaders’ endorsement meeting were the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; and former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, among others.
As the countdown to the Ibadan convention continues, the PDP faces a crucial test of unity, with stakeholders expressing hope that the screening and subsequent convention will proceed without rancour.