Ibadan, Oyo State – Tensions within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday as Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) were conspicuously absent from the party’s national convention held at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan.
The convention, aimed at electing national officers and restructuring party leadership ahead of the 2027 elections, proceeded amid legal and political controversies. Despite being prominent figures in the PDP, the three governors did not attend the opening session, raising questions about the unity of the party.
Political sources suggest that their absence may be tied to ongoing factional disputes within the PDP, particularly between the Wike-led faction and the acting national leadership under Umar Damagum. The Wike faction had previously called for members to boycott the Ibadan convention, citing concerns over procedural legitimacy.The convention has also been overshadowed by conflicting court rulings.
While a Federal High Court in Abuja placed a restraining order on the party to halt the convention until certain litigants are allowed to participate, an Oyo State High Court granted permission for the event to continue, intensifying the legal uncertainties surrounding the gathering.
Analysts note that the absence of Adeleke, Fubara, and Kefas highlights the growing rift within the PDP. Their nonattendance could influence delegates’ perceptions and affect the party’s cohesion as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The PDP is now under pressure to reconcile its internal differences and ensure that the convention achieves its objectives without further legal or political setbacks.Ibadan, Oyo State – Tensions within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday as Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) were conspicuously absent from the party’s national convention held at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan.
The convention, aimed at electing national officers and restructuring party leadership ahead of the 2027 elections, proceeded amid legal and political controversies. Despite being prominent figures in the PDP, the three governors did not attend the opening session, raising questions about the unity of the party.Political sources suggest that their absence may be tied to ongoing factional disputes within the PDP, particularly between the Wike-led faction and the acting national leadership under Umar Damagum.
The Wike faction had previously called for members to boycott the Ibadan convention, citing concerns over procedural legitimacy.The convention has also been overshadowed by conflicting court rulings.
While a Federal High Court in Abuja placed a restraining order on the party to halt the convention until certain litigants are allowed to participate, an Oyo State High Court granted permission for the event to continue, intensifying the legal uncertainties surrounding the gathering.Analysts note that the absence of Adeleke, Fubara, and Kefas highlights the growing rift within the PDP. Their nonattendance could influence delegates’ perceptions and affect the party’s cohesion as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The PDP is now under pressure to reconcile its internal differences and ensure that the convention achieves its objectives without further legal or political setbacks.