The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced his withdrawal from all reconciliation agreements previously reached with party stakeholders. In a strongly worded statement titled “PDP Crisis: My Position”, Wike squarely blamed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for escalating tensions and breaching key resolutions.
Wike, a founding member of the PDP, traced the root of the ongoing party turmoil to the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, citing a growing culture of dishonesty and mistrust among party leaders.
“Since after the 2023 general election, the PDP has been swinging from one slippery precipice to another due to dishonesty and lack of trust among its key stakeholders,” Wike stated.
According to him, several attempts were made to resolve the issues, including a meeting of the G5 governors in Lagos where he directly confronted Governor Makinde, accusing him of being the “chief architect” of the party’s troubles due to repeated disregard for previously agreed terms.
A follow-up meeting was held in Abuja at the residence of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and attended by prominent PDP figures including Governors Bala Mohammed and Umaru Fintiri. Wike emphasized that he had no personal issue with Bala Mohammed but criticized him for allegedly hiding under the banner of the PDP Governors’ Forum to flout agreements.
Despite tensions at the meeting, key resolutions were reached:
- Senator Samuel Anyanwu would remain the National Secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment.
- All legal matters concerning Rivers State were to be withdrawn.
- A state of emergency suit would be dropped.
- Stakeholders were expected to strictly adhere to the agreements.
Wike said he honored a plea to attend a follow-up stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge, where a reconciliation committee headed by Bukola Saraki was formed. However, he expressed disappointment that the committee’s work was undermined before it began.
“To my chagrin, Makinde conspired with Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to engineer a South-East leaders’ meeting that threatened to pull out of the PDP unless Ude Okoye was adopted as Secretary,” Wike alleged.
He further accused Makinde of instigating unauthorized moves within the party’s national secretariat to install the Deputy National Secretary as Acting National Secretary, flouting earlier agreements.
Wike also cited an incident on May 24, 2025, when a PDP zonal elective congress in Jos was nullified because INEC refused to recognize the signature of the Deputy National Secretary on the invitation letter, insisting that only Senator Anyanwu, the legitimate National Secretary, could authorize such.
Describing the situation as “provocative and distasteful,” Wike said his longstanding loyalty and contributions to the PDP were being betrayed.
“I’ve been in this party since 1998 and have given everything for its survival. Many of these individuals cannot match my commitment,” he asserted.
“I had hoped we could maintain mutual trust, but it’s now clear they intend to continue their political games to the detriment of the PDP.”
Wike concluded by officially withdrawing from all prior reconciliation agreements and vowed to “fight on until justice is achieved.”
