Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mao Ohuabunwa, has said Nigerians are no longer interested in the internal divisions within the party but are looking instead for leadership, stability, and hope.
Ohuabunwa made the remark at the PDP 2026 National Convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, where he urged party members to move beyond past setbacks and reposition the PDP as a credible alternative.
Acknowledging the party’s “terrible electoral setbacks” and periods of uncertainty, he said the PDP had endured because of its deep roots in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“We have learned that a divided heart cannot instil enlightened nations. Nigerians are watching us. They are not interested in our divisions; they are looking for leadership. We must replace mistrust with trust and personal ambition with reconciliation,” he said.
The BoT chairman stressed that inclusiveness must go beyond rhetoric, calling for greater empowerment of women, youths, and minorities within the party.
He described the convention as a turning point for renewal, not just in leadership but in mindset and structure, urging newly elected executives to rebuild the party from the grassroots and strengthen internal democracy.
“This is our moment to heal, to rebuild, and to rise again. Let us leave this convention stronger and more united than ever before,” he told delegates, adding that the outcome of the convention would signal the PDP’s readiness to return to power.
Also speaking, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, said the party’s crisis was gradually subsiding, noting that those opposed to reconciliation had begun to exit.
He reaffirmed the commitment of PDP lawmakers to work with party leadership to build a stronger and more competitive platform ahead of the 2027 elections, urging members to unite and attract those still sitting on the fence.
Similarly, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, described the convention as proof that the PDP retains the capacity to redeem itself.
He, however, stressed that reclaiming power would require collective effort and unity across all levels of the party.
“We need to recover the power that we have lost, and to recover that will require everybody. Every member of the PDP must ensure that we all come together to recover our country,” Chinda said.
He also underscored the importance of justice and experience in selecting candidates for future elections.
At the convention, party leaders emerged through a consensus arrangement, with key positions filled as part of efforts to stabilise the party and chart a new course ahead of the 2027 general elections.