The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Mao Ohuabunwa as the new chairman of its reconstituted Board of Trustees (BoT). The decision came during an emergency meeting in Abuja following the dissolution of the previous board led by Adolphus Wabara, a move backed by supporters of the party’s acting national chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad.
According to a statement released after the meeting, Ohuabunwa’s appointment was unanimous, with the board highlighting the need for “neutral and credible leadership” amid ongoing internal disputes. Isah Dansidi was named secretary, replacing former Kaduna governor Ahmed Makarfi. The statement explained that both Wabara and Makarfi were removed for publicly taking sides in the party’s factional crisis, which was seen as compromising the BoT’s neutrality.
For Ohuabunwa, this marks both a return and a challenge, offering him the chance to help stabilize a party he has long been associated with.
From Business to Politics
Born on May 24, 1957, in Port Harcourt to parents from Atani, Arochukwu in Abia State, Ohuabunwa began his career in healthcare. After earning a degree in Applied Biology from Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 1982, he founded St. Marsons Diagnostic Limited, a network of diagnostic centers across several Nigerian cities.
His interest in public service led him to contest a House of Representatives seat in 1998 under the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), though the process was halted by political upheaval. In 1999, he ran successfully under the PDP, representing both Arochukwu and Ohafia constituencies. During his two terms in the House (1999–2007), he served as Deputy Leader and led the South-East caucus. He also represented Nigeria at the ECOWAS Parliament, chairing the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Security Committee (2001–2003) and later serving as treasurer (2004–2007).
A Seasoned Senator
Ohuabunwa returned to politics in 2015, winning the Abia North senatorial seat. His tenure in the Senate included promoting regional integration, agricultural innovation, and youth employment initiatives. He lost his 2019 re-election bid to former Abia governor Orji Uzor Kalu of the APC, rejecting the results and alleging electoral manipulation.
Scholar, Statesman, and Party Loyalist
Ohuabunwa holds a Master’s in Human Resource Management from Rivers State University and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In July 2024, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt. He has received multiple honors, including the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) and the Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS).
A Knight of Saint Christopher in the Anglican Communion, Ohuabunwa is recognized for his measured and principled approach to leadership—qualities expected to serve him well in navigating the PDP’s current challenges. He was married to Nimi Faith, who passed away on July 22, 2023, and they had children together.
