The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a major shift in plans for its upcoming National Elective Convention, moving the date from August to November 2025 and relocating the venue from Kano to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The development was disclosed on Thursday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, during a press briefing in Abuja following the party’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
According to Ologunagba, the NEC arrived at the decision after extensive consultations with key stakeholders across all six geopolitical zones.
“The National Executive Committee of our great party has resolved that the National Elective Convention will now be held in November 2025,” he stated. “Furthermore, the venue has been changed from Kano to Ibadan, Oyo State.”
While he did not offer detailed reasons for the adjustments, sources within the party cite the current wave of defections and internal discontent as factors. Several prominent PDP lawmakers and governors have recently aligned with rival parties, some only remaining PDP members in name.
The party’s leadership reportedly faced internal pressure to shift the convention away from Kano due to persistent political instability and factional disputes in the North-West zone.
Ologunagba assured that a specific date in November, along with details regarding logistics, zoning arrangements, and guidelines for aspirants, would be released soon.
The National Elective Convention is a pivotal event for the PDP as it determines the composition of the National Working Committee (NWC), which oversees the party’s administration and strategy. The upcoming convention is especially critical as the PDP seeks to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Since its defeat in the 2023 presidential polls, the party has grappled with internal crises, ranging from leadership tussles to poor grassroots coordination. The November convention is expected to address these issues and chart a new course for the party’s revival.
Analysts view the move to Ibadan as both symbolic and strategic, offering a more neutral ground for negotiations and unity-building efforts.
The postponement also affords the party more time to resolve legal battles over parallel state executives, consolidate internal structures, and forge stronger alliances with emerging political movements.
As the PDP enters what many describe as a defining moment, political observers will be watching closely to see whether the party can regain its footing and present a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.
