The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Monday after a faction of the party formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of a leadership change.

In a letter dated November 3, 2025, and signed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the faction informed INEC that the party’s Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, has been appointed as the new acting National Chairman.

According to the letter, Mohammed’s emergence followed a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on Saturday, November 1, and was carried out in line with the party’s constitution. The faction requested that INEC recognize Mohammed as the legitimate acting chairman.

This development comes amid ongoing turmoil in the PDP after a Federal High Court in Abuja halted the party’s planned national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court ruling followed a suit filed by three PDP officials—Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Nnanna, and Turnah George—who alleged constitutional breaches in the convention preparations.

Following the judgment, the PDP suspended several NWC members believed to be aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. In retaliation, another faction announced the suspension of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and five other NWC members, plunging the party further into chaos.

On Monday, tensions erupted at the PDP national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, as supporters of Abdulrahman Mohammed stormed the premises, chanting solidarity songs and demanding the ouster of Damagum’s leadership. The protesters accused the current acting chairman of mismanaging the party and vowed to reclaim control.

Mohammed later addressed supporters at the PDP mini office in Wuse, Abuja, where he assumed office and unveiled his leadership agenda themed “A New Dawn.”