The faction aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde within the Peoples Democratic Party has unveiled a 13-member National Caretaker Committee, naming former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as chairman.

The move, endorsed at the Makinde-backed 103rd meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee in Abuja, is the latest attempt by the bloc to assert control over the PDP’s national structure amid a deepening leadership crisis.

The motion to constitute the committee was moved by Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by ex officio member Clement Fagboyede, signalling the support of key state and national stakeholders within the Makinde camp.

Turaki, a senior advocate and former presidential aspirant, is expected to steer the party through a delicate transition phase, including reconciliation efforts and preparations for future congresses and conventions. Party insiders say his legal and political experience made him a consensus choice for the role.

Also announced was former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja, who was named National Secretary of the caretaker committee. Arapaja, a close ally of Makinde, is seen as a crucial bridge between the South-West bloc and other power centres in the party.

Other members of the committee include Daniel Ambrose, Hamza Abuya, Ihediwa, Isah Abubakar, Theophilus Dakashan, Ini Ememobong, Aribisala Adewale Idowu, Baru Shaffi and Okechukwu Obiechina. The composition reflects a spread across geopolitical zones, a deliberate attempt to project inclusiveness and legitimacy.

At a briefing in Abuja, Turaki and Arapaja framed the committee’s mandate around reconciliation, rebuilding trust and restoring discipline in the party. They pledged to engage aggrieved stakeholders, manage ongoing disputes over party leadership and reposition the PDP as a credible opposition platform.

The Makinde-backed NEC session and the unveiling of the caretaker team underscore the intensity of the internal struggle over who controls the PDP’s national organs. While rival factions are expected to challenge the legitimacy of the new structure, supporters of the move insist it is necessary to stabilise the party and prevent further fragmentation.