Tensions have escalated within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a bitter rift between two of its prominent figures—FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde—threatens the party’s unity ahead of its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27.
In a statement released on Sunday and titled “PDP Crisis: My Position,” Wike announced his withdrawal from ongoing reconciliation initiatives. He cited persistent internal dishonesty and broken agreements as reasons for his stance.
“Since after the 2023 General election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders.”
“To stem this ugly trend, efforts have been made to arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery and enthrone fidelity to agreements,” Wike said
Wike revealed that during a recent meeting of the G5 in Lagos, he confronted Governor Makinde over what he termed a breach of trust. He added that a broader meeting later held at the Abuja residence of former Senate President Bukola Saraki had led to a series of resolutions aimed at stabilizing the party.
Among these, he said, were agreements “that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the National Secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgement, all legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the National Legal Adviser, the suit on the State of emergency be withdrawn forthwith, and nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached.”
However, Wike expressed frustration that these decisions were quickly violated.
“It is disheartening to note that even before the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Committee began its work, the gentleman’s agreement we reached at Saraki’s Guest House was already being crudely violated,” he stated.
He accused Makinde of collaborating with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to sideline the agreement.
“Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mbah of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as secretary, they would pull out of the PDP,” Wike said.
According to him, Makinde also orchestrated moves within the PDP National Secretariat to have the Deputy National Secretary act as the National Secretary, contrary to earlier agreements.
He cited a specific case involving the annulment of a properly signed letter regarding a gubernatorial candidate in Anambra State.
“On the 24th of May 2025, in Jos, for instance, a well-publicised and properly attended zonal elective congress of the PDP was aborted because the letter inviting INEC to the congress was signed by the Deputy National Secretary… INEC refused to attend because the proper signatory recognised by law, that is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was not a signatory to the invitation notice.”
Describing the developments as “undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying,” Wike insisted that his loyalty to the PDP dates back to 1998 and accused some stakeholders of jeopardizing the party for personal gains.
“I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” he declared.
In response, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who chairs the party’s reconciliation committee, said Wike’s withdrawal is not an irreversible blow. Through his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki expressed hope that the minister could still be persuaded to return to the table.
“Wike’s pulling out of the arrangement is not really a setback as you inferred. It’s just an indication that we still need to do more work and intensify more efforts,” Saraki’s aide stated.
“A mediator cannot be seen reacting to every issue arising conflicts otherwise in the process of speaking, he may say something that the various parties may misinterpret.”
Saraki emphasized the importance of saving the PDP from collapse, warning that its demise would leave Nigeria with a de facto one-party system.
“The alternative to PDP is one party state. The PDP goes beyond party. That is the only legacy party that is remaining. Out of the three parties with which we started this democracy, AD is gone, APP is gone. So, this is the only legacy party. Allowing it to die will be a major setback for democracy,” he warned.
The fallout has affected key party processes. The May 24 zonal congress in Jos was canceled after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to attend due to improper documentation. INEC insisted that Senator Anyanwu’s signature was required for the letter of invitation to be valid.
Party leaders across several states have voiced their frustration with Wike. Ekiti State caretaker chairman Dare Adeleke condemned Wike’s recent actions, saying, “It is a devilish act for anybody that has reaped from the PDP to now turn around saying that the party must be dead.”
In Ogun State, Sunday Solarin claimed Wike’s loyalty to the PDP is in question. “He is only acting a script,” he said, alluding to the minister’s alleged ties with the ruling APC.
Gombe PDP Chairman Mamman Kwaskebe labeled Wike’s actions a distraction. “Whatever he is doing now is to dance to the tune of APC,” he said. Bayelsa PDP Chairman Solomon Agwanana echoed that view, stating, “He is working for the APC and has stated publicly that he wants to return President Tinubu in 2027.”
Despite these challenges, Saraki’s reconciliation team remains active. A late-night meeting on Sunday reportedly aimed to secure last-minute agreements to salvage both the NEC meeting and what remains of the party’s unity.
As the PDP heads into the decisive May 27 NEC session, the party’s internal strife signals a critical moment for Nigeria’s main opposition platform. Whether Saraki’s peace efforts succeed—or Wike’s faction pulls the plug—may determine the PDP’s future.
