The battle for control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist, as loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, have openly rejected the zoning consultations led by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Bayelsa’s Douye Diri. This latest standoff throws more uncertainty into the party’s November national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan.
Wike Bloc Walks Away
Just hours before Southern PDP stakeholders gathered in Lagos on Wednesday under the guidance of the zoning committee chaired by Governor Diri, Wike’s loyalists — including state party chairmen, senators, and former governors — distanced themselves from the talks.
In a joint statement signed by PDP leaders from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Abia states, alongside key National Assembly figures, they dismissed the Lagos meeting as “illegal, divisive, and unrepresentative.”
“The so-called consultative summit was convened in secrecy and exclusion,” the statement read. “We categorically dismiss any resolutions or communiqués purportedly emanating from that meeting as neither binding on, nor reflective of the collective will of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria.”
They accused the organizers of sidelining state chairmen, national officers, and even principal lawmakers, alleging that the meeting was designed to protect the “selfish ambitions of a select few.”
Makinde Fires Back
Governor Makinde, however, pushed back at the criticism. Speaking after the Lagos gathering, he insisted the consultations were meant to reposition the PDP, not divide it.
“When people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. That is democracy,” Makinde said. “We can disagree, but it should not be personal. What matters is what we are offering Nigerians, because they are watching.”
He maintained that the party was yet to decide on presidential zoning and argued that the immediate focus must be on rebuilding unity. “We need to have a party first before talking about candidates,” he stressed.
A Party at War With Itself
The zoning committee, inaugurated on August 14 and led by Governor Diri, was tasked with recommending how the 19 National Working Committee positions should be shared between North and South. Its proposals will be tabled at the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting next Monday.
But with Wike’s bloc already rejecting the legitimacy of the Lagos summit, questions remain on whether the NEC will adopt, amend, or completely discard Diri’s recommendations.
For Wike’s loyalists, the stakes are higher: they have vowed to resist any attempt to sideline their interests. “If any regard is given to the outcome of that purported meeting, we shall not hesitate to resist it with full force,” their statement warned.
Governors’ Forum to Meet in Zamfara
Meanwhile, the PDP Governors’ Forum is set to meet in Zamfara this weekend in a last-ditch effort to broker peace. A source within the party’s National Working Committee told The Punch that the governors see the November convention in Ibadan as “crucial to the PDP’s survival.”
“Our leaders are resolved to apply political solutions where possible, but also to use the organs of the party to enforce discipline if necessary,” the source said.
Wike’s Tinubu Alignment Raises Eyebrows
Adding fuel to the fire, Wike on Thursday declared his support for politicians aligned with President Bola Tinubu, saying he would back leaders who could “bring development to the people” because they had access to the federal government.
“Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him,” Wike said while commissioning a water project in Karu, Abuja. His comments are expected to further anger PDP loyalists, who already accuse him of undermining the party from within.
The Bigger Picture
As things stand, the PDP is caught between two forces: one bloc pushing for a united convention in Ibadan, and another threatening to derail it altogether. With just three months to go, the party faces the risk of entering 2027 more fractured than ever.
The question now is simple but urgent: can the PDP resolve its internal battles in time to present itself as a credible alternative to the ruling APC?
