Cracks in Plateau PDP widen as Wike-led faction elects parallel Chairman during Congress

The cracks in the fold of the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have continued to widen after a faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, held a Congress on Tuesday where Peter Tongshep was elected as a parallel chairman of the party.

Recall that on October 25, 2025, another faction of the PDP loyal to Tanimu Turaki had in its own Congress held at the WAYE Foundation, Doi-Du, Jos, elected Chief Raymond Dabo as its new State Chairman, alongside 38 other members of the State Executive Committee (SEC), to steer the affairs of the party toward victory in the 2027 General Elections.

However, on Tuesday, the Wike-aligned faction, in its own consensus Congress, settled for Tongshep alongside other 38 executive members with the mandate to run the affairs of the party.

The Congress, which took place under tight security with heavy deployment of security personnel to ensure order and protect the participants, was supervised by a seven-member delegation from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Congress had in attendance former Sports Ministers Damishi Sango and Musa Azi, Sarpiya Danyaro, Aminu Zang, as well as BoT Members, Timothy Golu, and Rt. Hon. Johnbul Shekarau, among other prominent party figures and other stakeholders of the Wike-led PDP faction.

Speaking with journalists after the Congress, Dr Samaila Rukuba, who was elected as the faction spokesman, described the Congress as very peaceful and orderly, stating that with the conclusion of the state congresses, all eyes are on the way to the National Convention slated for 29 March in Abuja.

Rukuba called on all well-meaning PDP members in Plateau to reposition themselves towards reconciliation and the task of recovering the party’s runaway mandate.

Cracks in Plateau PDP widen as Wike-led faction elects parallel Chairman during Congress