Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Nigerians are not interested in the division rocking the party, but want to see leadership, stability, and hope.
Ohuabunwa, stated this at the 2026 PDP National Convention held at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium in Abuja on Sunday.
He said that the party must move beyond past setbacks to reclaim its position as the bedrock of Nigerian democracy.
The BoT Chairman acknowledged the “terrible electoral setbacks” and moments of uncertainty that had pressured the party’s collective resolve in recent years.
He, however, noted that the PDP remained standing because its foundation was rooted in the history of the nation.
“We have learned that a divided heart cannot instill 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
Ohuabunwa said that inclusiveness was no longer a slogan but a necessity for survival, calling for the empowerment of women, the youth, and minorities within the party structure.
The board chairman described the convention as a moment for renewal, which he defined as changing not just leadership but attitudes and systems.
He urged the new party executives to rebuild structures from the grassroots and strengthen internal democracy to reconnect with everyday Nigerians.
The BoT Chairman commended party leadership and the resilience of members, who stayed faithful through challenging times, saying that the PDP’s story was far from over.
“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 charged the delegates.
Ohuabunwa said that the outcome of the March 2026 convention would signal to the world that the PDP had come to stay and waps ready to serve Nigeria again.
Minority Leader of the Senate, Sen. Abba Moro in his remarks said that party’s crisis was gradually subsiding, noting that members who opposed reconciliation have exited the part
Moro expressed the senate commitment to collaborate with the leader of the party to build a new PDP, a stronger PDP, a more competitive PDP that would stand the election in 2027.
He called on party members to come together and build a party that Nigerian would be proud of and members sitting on the fence would be willing to join to will elections 2027.
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, described the convention as a proof that PDP had the capacity to redeem itself.
Chinda, however, said that for the party to recall power it must come together in unity.
“We need to recover the power that we have lost and to recover that will require every body. Every member of PDP must ensure that we all come together to recover our country.
“We must put in our best. We must not leave it for the incoming executive of our national party. Everybody has the ability and responsibility to do so,” he said.
Chinda also emphasised the need for justice and the need to consider experience in selecting candidates for future elections, including lawmakers.
NAN reports that former acting National Chairman of the PDP, emerged as the substantive National Chairman of the party.
Also re-elected into his former position as National Secretary is Sen. Sam Anyanwu.
Also elected through consensus option at the national convention are Umaru Nature, National Organising Secretary; Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, National Legal Adviser, Diran Odeyemi, National Treasurer and Jugundo Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary among others.
