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| Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and the Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike |
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may face another round of internal turmoil as its November national convention, slated for Ibadan, Oyo State, risks being derailed by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, once a close ally of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, is now at loggerheads with him and has openly threatened to disrupt the party’s plans.
Ahead of the November 16 elective convention, where 19 new members are expected to join the National Working Committee (NWC), PDP leaders have warned Wike against further undermining the party. National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Wednesday, cautioned that disciplinary measures would be taken under the party’s constitution if Wike persisted in challenging the process.
Other PDP stakeholders, including Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor and former South-West National Vice Chairman Eddy Olafeso, also accused Wike of overstepping his bounds, stressing that no individual could obstruct internal party processes, particularly with INEC already involved.
The warning comes after months of turbulence that saw prominent PDP figures including its 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa, and sitting governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) defect to rival platforms such as the APC and the African Democratic Congress.
During its 101st NEC meeting in July, the PDP resolved to hold its elective convention in Ibadan on November 15–16. But Wike, displeased with the party’s handling of zonal leadership issues, has rejected the arrangement.
He insists that Chief Dan Orbih remains the duly elected National Vice Chairman (South-South) following a congress in Calabar, contrary to the position of the party’s NWC. He also argued that Ali Odefa, the National Vice Chairman (South-East), should no longer occupy the seat after being sacked by a court order.
“If they don’t acknowledge Dan Orbih’s election, then another crisis is inevitable,” Wike warned during a Channels TV interview on Tuesday night. He further declared that he would not recognize the Ibadan convention unless the “anomalies” were corrected.
Dismissing talk of a parallel convention, Wike maintained that the PDP NEC had not officially approved the event and vowed that his group would resist any form of “impunity” within the party.
“Our group will not allow injustice to prevail. Nobody has contributed more to the PDP than I have, and I will not stand by and watch impunity thrive,” the FCT Minister asserted.
With tensions mounting, the PDP faces the daunting task of uniting its fractured ranks ahead of the Ibadan convention, or risk plunging into yet another crisis that could threaten its relevance before the 2027
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