The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to dominate discussions this week as the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) begins a fresh round of engagements with key stakeholders across the country.

A member of the NWC, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the meetings were part of efforts to stabilise the opposition party and address rising internal tensions.

Confirming the development in a statement, the National Organising Secretary, Mr Theophilus Shan, said the NWC had scheduled a series of consultations with state chairmen, former governors, ex-ministers, federal lawmakers and national ex-officio members.

We recalls that PDP governors had earlier endorsed the Nov. 16 Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and other members of the NWC for a four-year term.

However, the party has remained divided as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, alongside Mr Mohammed Abdulrahman and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, continues to insist on serving as acting National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

Although the governors facilitated a handover from former National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki ahead of the expiration of Damagum’s tenure on Dec. 9, the Wike-led bloc announced a 60-day caretaker committee on Sunday, naming Abdulrahman, Anyanwu and others as members.

Amid the developments, the Turaki-led NWC is expected to meet this week in Abuja with state chairmen, PDP caucuses in the National Assembly, national ex-officio members, and forums of former governors, ex-ministers and past NWC members.

According to Shan’s meeting schedule, the NWC will on Wednesday, Dec. 10, meet with state chairmen, members of the House of Representatives and national ex-officio members. The committee will also present a Certificate of Return to Dr Oluwole Oluyede, the party’s candidate for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti governorship election.

Consultations with former PDP governors, ex-ministers and past NWC members are slated for Tuesday, Dec. 16, while senators are expected to meet with the NWC on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Shan said the engagements were part of efforts by the newly elected NWC to rebuild the party after the contentious 2025 national convention in Ibadan.

Another NWC source told NAN that Turaki intended to use the meetings to reassure stakeholders, discourage defections and outline plans to reposition the party.

“It is a series of meetings with leaders at all levels. We want to highlight the progress made so far, share our plans and appeal to everyone to remain in the PDP. The leadership will also address actions taken against those undermining the party,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the NWC has set up the Osun State Governorship Appeal Panel to review complaints arising from the party’s primary ahead of the 2026 election. The panel, chaired by Turaki, is expected to sit on Thursday, Dec. 11.

In a related development, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Kingsley Chinda, and the South-East PDP caucus leader, Mr Idu Igariwey, said they would not be attending Wednesday’s meeting.

Although Turaki issued the invitation through Shan, Chinda, a loyalist of Wike, told NAN that he had not received any formal notice.

“I saw no invitation,” he said.

Igariwey also said he had not received an invitation as of Monday.

However, the PDP caucus leader in the House of Representatives, Mr Fred Agbedi, confirmed his attendance. Agbedi, who remained in the party despite the recent defection of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri to the APC, said members were already preparing for the meeting.

Also confirming his participation, Mr Mansur Soro (PDP–Darazo/Ganjuwa), said the invitation was “open to all members”.

The party remains polarised, with Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, leading one faction, while Wike heads the other. The crisis escalated following the controversial Ibadan convention, which was upheld by an order of an Oyo State High Court but stalled twice by the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged violations of the PDP constitution.

As both camps continue to claim leadership, the PDP national secretariat remains sealed by the police to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Efforts by to get comments from the Deputy National Secretary, Mr Richard Ihediwa, and the National Organising Secretary, Mr Theophilus Shan, were unsuccessful as both officials were unavailable at press time.