The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed that its 2025 National Convention will proceed as planned this weekend, from Saturday, November 15th to Sunday, November 16th, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. This announcement comes despite swirling reports of internal crises and attempts to halt the exercise. In a statement, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary and secretary of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), vehemently dismissed rumors of postponement, labeling them as deliberate misinformation sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP has accused the APC of actively plotting to destabilize the opposition and impose a one-party state, alleging that agents of the ruling party are attempting to infiltrate its ranks and disrupt preparations for the convention. Ologunagba emphasized the party's determination to lawfully resist such designs and maintain its focus on strengthening democratic institutions and preparing for credible elections. Delegates, party officials, and supporters have already begun arriving in Ibadan, with final accreditation and logistics expected to conclude by Friday.

The upcoming convention is deemed crucial for the PDP, which has been grappling with internal disputes and electoral setbacks since governing Nigeria from 1999 to 2015. It aims to address critical leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections and to mend fractures between party factions. These divisions include those loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and those aligned with key governors such as Rivers State’s Siminalayi Fubara and Oyo State’s Seyi Makinde. The party is currently split into two prominent factions: one loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed, and another chaired by Umar Damagum.

Ejiofor Onyia, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), stressed the imperative for the convention to hold, asserting that it is essential to elect new leaders and restore the party to its former glory. Speaking on Arise Television, Onyia referenced a Supreme Court ruling that delimited the judiciary's involvement in the internal affairs of political parties, reinforcing the party's right to conduct its convention. The convention is set to elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and adopt key resolutions that will shape the party’s roadmap for 2027.

Amidst rising tensions within the opposition landscape, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently urged political parties to strictly comply with internal democracy provisions, following numerous litigations over parallel congresses in several states. Furthermore, security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), have reportedly been placed on high alert to prevent any disruption during the weekend gathering, underscoring the significance and potential sensitivity of the event.