Internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State has worsened following the rejection of Dr. Victor Fallack by members of a factional caretaker committee, who have instead endorsed Alhaji Abba Saleh as the legitimate chairman of the party in the state.
Eight members of the 16-member factional caretaker committee distanced themselves from a list allegedly circulated by Dr. Victor Fallack, in which he reportedly named himself the substantive chairman of the party and included other committee members in the State Working Committee (SWC) without their consent.
The committee, believed to be aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, had earlier been inaugurated on February 24, 2026, with Fallack serving as its chairman and mandated to oversee ward, local government and state congresses of the party in Taraba State.
However, controversy erupted after the congresses held last Saturday produced two different lists of party executives.
At the state congress venue held at the Pastoral Centre in Mile Six, Jalingo, Alhaji Abba Saleh was announced as the chairman of the PDP in the state. At the same time, another list emerged naming Dr. Fallack as the substantive chairman of the party.
In a joint statement signed by the eight caretaker committee members, they rejected the list attributed to Fallack and accused him of imposing himself as the party leader.
According to them, the list circulated by Fallack included their names in the State Working Committee without their knowledge or approval.
The statement read:
.“It will recall that the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP constituted a Caretaker Committee on the 24th of February 2026, headed by Dr Victor Fallack for the party in Taraba State to conduct ward, local government areas and state congresses of the party.”
The members explained that events leading up to the state congress created the need for broader consultation and compromise among party stakeholders.
“However, before the commencement of the state congress on Saturday, 14th March 2026, several politicians trooped into the party following the Appeal Court Judgement. Therefore, in the interest of peace and progress of the party, the Caretaker Committee saw the need to allow people who have interest to contest in the state congress.”
They further noted that the influx of new members into the party required a balanced leadership arrangement that would reflect fairness, zoning considerations and religious diversity.
“Then came the need for give and take between and among the old and the new members as well as balancing the leadership based on fairness and justice. Since the major contenders for the governorship position in the party were already indicating interest through their actions, we equally saw the need for balancing in terms of zoning and religious diversity.”
According to the statement, stakeholders eventually agreed that the party’s chairmanship should be zoned to a Muslim candidate, while other positions were distributed accordingly.
“We therefore reached a consensus to allow the position of the chairman of the party to a Muslim while other positions were equally zoned accordingly. While a consensus was reached on the new leadership of the party for the state, the chairman of the caretaker committee, Dr Victor Fallack came up with another list of the state executives, appointing himself the new Chairman and assigning some positions to members of the caretaker committee.”
The members warned that such action could further destabilize the party but said the majority stood against it.
“We saw his action as capable of breaching the peace but thank God for the overwhelming majority of the members who stood their grounds.”
They concluded by reaffirming their support for the leadership that emerged from the state congress.
“We therefore wish to reiterate that we are in support of the new state leadership that emerged from the state Congress headed by Alhaji Abba Saleh.”
The development has further exposed deep divisions within the PDP in Taraba State, raising concerns over the party’s unity ahead of future political contests.
