The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially updated its portal to recognize Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), following the party’s National Convention held in Abuja on March 28. The update, confirmed in a statement released on Friday by PRP National Publicity Secretary Ishaq Muhammed, also lists Mr. Kanu Uchenna as National Secretary, Dr. Bayawo Abdullahi as National Treasurer, Mr. Chuka Patrick as National Financial Secretary, and Mr. Vincent Okudu as National Legal Adviser. This formal recognition by INEC marks the conclusion of the party’s internal leadership transition process, which was conducted under the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
The convention, held at the Abuja International Conference Centre, was attended by delegates from across the country who elected the new leadership team. Muhammed emphasized that the revised leadership list on INEC’s official website signifies the party’s compliance with electoral regulations and the legitimacy of the election process. He added that the new leadership is committed to advancing the PRP’s socialist agenda and deepening its grassroots engagement across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Despite the formal recognition, the party remains embroiled in internal conflict. A faction known as the PRP Vanguard has publicly rejected the outcome of the convention, labeling the process as unlawful and claiming it violates the party’s founding principles. The group’s National Chairman, Abdulmajid Yakubu-Daudus, accused the newly elected leadership of attempting to rebrand the PRP as a platform for “discredited politicians” from other opposition parties. He stressed that the party was established by the working class, progressive intellectuals, and the toiling masses, and must remain committed to socialist values.
Yakubu-Daudus declared, “The PRP remains a socialist-oriented party committed to the emancipation of the masses, not a vehicle for capitalist interests.” He further stated, “The PRP is not for sale to the highest bidder. It was founded by the working class, progressive intellectuals and the toiling masses, and it will remain so.” The faction has called for a review of the convention’s procedures and urged INEC to intervene in what they describe as a leadership crisis.
As the PRP navigates this internal division, the new leadership faces the challenge of uniting the party ahead of upcoming elections. The recognition by INEC provides a legal foundation, but the ideological and structural disagreements within the party may influence its political effectiveness in the months ahead. The situation underscores the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s opposition parties as they seek to consolidate support and present a credible alternative to the ruling party.
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