… Fears Rise Over Internal Sabotage
…Makinde: Unity Greater Than 2027 Ambitions
By Jeremy Fregene
Tensions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Thursday as loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, dismissed the Lagos Southern Zoning Consultative Summit as “illegal” and “exclusionary,” while governors and party leaders aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde insisted that rebuilding and uniting the PDP must take precedence ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Lagos meeting, convened by the Southern Zoning Committee chaired by Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, brought together PDP leaders from across the South, including Makinde, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Enugu Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai representing Gov. Peter Mba, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and former Deputy National Chairman Bode George. Former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sam Egwu, and Udom Emmanuel, as well as several National Assembly members and party stakeholders, were also in attendance.
But conspicuously absent were Wike’s allies, who hours earlier issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the meeting. Party chairmen from Rivers, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, alongside lawmakers such as House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, and Mike Nnachi, accused the organisers of sidelining key officers and stakeholders.
“The attention of the undersigned state chairmen and leaders has been drawn to a Nicodemously summoned meeting in Lagos, purportedly on behalf of southern PDP members. We categorically dismiss any resolutions or communiqués from this gathering as neither binding nor reflective of the collective will of the PDP family,” the statement read.
The group warned that the parley was divisive, driven by “selfish ambition,” and vowed to resist any attempt to impose its outcomes on the party. They argued that excluding national officers and critical stakeholders “offends the spirit of collective decision-making” and undermines the PDP’s structures.
In contrast, Makinde defended the Lagos meeting, saying the objective was to reposition the PDP as a credible alternative. He dismissed talk of the 2027 presidential ticket as premature, stressing that the party must first strengthen itself.
“We need to have a party before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything else will fall flat. Our efforts are directed towards having a virile and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of,” he said.
Makinde added that the calibre of leaders present showed the PDP remained alive, pointing to recent by-election results in Oyo and other states as evidence of resilience. “If we continue to work hard and bring our people together, Nigerians will start listening to us again,” he said.
Responding to Wike’s camp, Makinde cautioned against personal attacks: “When people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Democracy requires engagement. We will keep reaching out to all sides, because this is about what we are offering Nigerians, not personal fights.”
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the party’s November elective convention in Ibadan. The 44-member zoning committee, inaugurated on August 14, is expected to present its formula for sharing the 19 National Working Committee positions between North and South at the PDP National Executive Committee meeting next week.
As the divide widens, the PDP Governors’ Forum is set to meet in Zamfara this weekend to address the crisis and ensure the Ibadan convention holds as planned. A senior party source confirmed that while governors prefer political solutions, they are also prepared to apply pressure where necessary.
The wrangling comes as Wike openly declares support for those aligned with President Bola Tinubu, saying he would back leaders who can bring development to their people by “supporting the government in power.” His remarks continue to deepen concerns within the PDP that the former Rivers governor is determined to sabotage the party’s efforts to revive its fortunes ahead of 2027.
Wike had, while commending former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda, and the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, during the flag-off of Lot 2 of Water Supply Projects in Karu, on Thursday, hailed both men for their capacity, and for bringing development to the people. He promised to construct a 2km road in the Karu site, on the request of former Senator Aduda, adding that he will support those who support the Tinubu-led administration.
While commending AMAC Chairman, Maikalangu, Wike said, “For me, I’m here to talk about those who have access to the government and bring something to the people. The chairman has access to us. Anything he tells us, we will do. This is the only man I know. If he wins as Chairman of AMAC, we will give him whatever he wants. I don’t know the party he belongs to. But I know that he supports Tinubu. Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him,” Wike said.