Otunba Segun Showunmi, a senior chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised alarms over what he described as a looming legal and leadership crisis within the party. According to Showunmi, the PDP faces potential “legal extinction” if urgent procedural measures are not activated before the expiration of the National Working Committee’s (NWC) tenure on December 8, 2025.

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Leadership Vacuum Could Trigger INEC Non-Recognition

Showunmi warned that failure to act could push the party into a leadership vacuum, leaving it vulnerable to non-recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Posting an emergency plan on his Facebook page, he stressed that the party is experiencing its most constitutionally sensitive moment in years, with overlapping deadlines and minimal room for error.

“The party will become extinct if they allow Dec 10 to go by. The law will not encourage contempt, and not even the President would be able to help,” Showunmi wrote.

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Controversy After Ibadan National Convention

The current crisis follows the PDP’s November 15–16, 2025 national convention in Ibadan, where Alhaji Kabiru Turaki was announced as National Chairman. Rather than unifying the party, the event deepened existing fractures, prompting legal challenges over the legitimacy of the new leadership.

• Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s faction, aligned with Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike, has filed a court suit to void the Ibadan convention.
• Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has also challenged both the procedures and recognitions granted during the convention.

These multiple legal actions have intensified internal divisions and increased the urgency for the PDP to meet constitutional deadlines. Failure could leave INEC or the courts with no choice but to declare the party’s leadership structure invalid.

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Urgent Procedural Steps Needed

Showunmi emphasized that the tenure of the Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum–led NWC ends on December 8, creating a ticking clock for the party. Key procedural requirements include:

• A 21-day mandatory notice to INEC before any national convention or leadership election
• A 7-day notice to the National Executive Committee (NEC) to convene
• Reconstitution of the Board of Trustees (BoT) to restore internal oversight

“The PDP currently has no stabilizing internal structure capable of managing a transition unless immediate action is taken,” Showunmi warned.

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Showunmi’s Emergency Action Plan

To prevent a legal blackout, Showunmi outlined a detailed plan for immediate action:

1. NEC Meeting: The National Chairman must issue notice within 24 hours; if refused, two-thirds of NEC members can compel a meeting under the party constitution.
2. Preliminary INEC Notification: Notify INEC of planned leadership transition activities to avoid breaching the 21-day requirement.
3. Governors and Senior Leaders Consultation: Emergency consultations to prevent boycotts, rival gatherings, or quorum disputes.
4. Adoption of Transition Timetable: NEC to adopt a uniform calendar, either extending NWC tenure, appointing a caretaker committee, or allowing NWC to function administratively until convention.
5. Reconstitution of BoT: Restore internal oversight and accountability.
6. Legal Compliance Documentation: National Legal Adviser to prepare memos, compliance reports, and evidence to withstand court challenges.
7. Communication Strategy: National Publicity Secretary to reassure members, counter misinformation, and outline the transition timeline across states.

“Here is a plan if arrogance will not replace clear thinking,” Showunmi cautioned.

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Consequences of Inaction

Showunmi warned that without swift action, the PDP could face a legal blackout, leaving it without recognized leadership, incapable of validly convening meetings, and vulnerable to injunctions that could immobilize the party entirely. He urged the party to ensure:

• A legally recognized interim or extended NWC within 30 days
• A transition calendar accepted by INEC
• A reconstituted Board of Trustees
• A fixed convention date with a unified, constitutionally-compliant public posture

“The People’s Democratic Party is risking creating a political mess for the country occasioned purely by their recidivist tendencies over the years,” Showunmi added.