Convention Crisis: PDP Battles for Its Soul as Wike, Makinde Lock Horns

The deepening rift within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated into an open power struggle between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, threatening to disrupt the party’s planned August 2025 convention.

Former allies, Wike and Makinde were once central figures in the now-defunct G-5 group—alongside ex-governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Samuel Ortom—which opposed the PDP’s 2023 presidential ticket going to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Their demand for a southern candidate failed when Atiku clinched the ticket, sparking an enduring internal feud. The group’s resistance to Atiku contributed to the opposition’s dismal performance in the last general election, aiding President Bola Tinubu’s victory.

Today, the unity that once bound the G-5 has crumbled. Governor Makinde has realigned with the PDP’s national leadership, supported by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Peter Mbah of Enugu. In contrast, Wike, now aligned with Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), has grown increasingly isolated within the party. His most recent fallout with Makinde was triggered by the latter’s opposition to reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary—an effort backed by Wike and rebuffed by PDP governors during a tense meeting in Ibadan.

As the PDP prepares for its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on June 30 and national convention in August, tensions are intensifying. On Monday, Wike convened a meeting in Abuja with other G-5 members—excluding Makinde—where he laid out conditions for peace and insisted on Anyanwu’s reinstatement, declaring him the legitimate National Secretary based on a Supreme Court judgment.

In a communique released after the meeting, the Wike camp warned that backing Sunday Ude-Okoye as National Secretary would destabilise the party. They also demanded that the PDP unequivocally zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, citing the need for fairness, federal character, and constitutional adherence. The group asserted that only Anyanwu, not Ude-Okoye, has the authority to convene party meetings or issue official communications, declaring all actions taken without his signature as “null and void.”

Despite Wike’s posturing, PDP insiders told The Punch that the convention would proceed as planned. Several senior party figures dismissed the possibility of postponement, insisting that Wike lacks the clout to dictate terms to the NEC. Speaking, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member Chief Olabode George warned Wike that no individual, regardless of status, could hijack the party. He reaffirmed that the NEC is the sole authority empowered to determine the party’s direction and confirmed that the June 30 meeting would proceed.

Another BoT member and former National Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, accused Wike of sabotaging the party, citing his open support for President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Tsauri argued that the party’s leadership should have already initiated disciplinary action against Wike, describing his continued influence as a threat to party unity. While acknowledging Wike’s past contributions to the PDP, Tsauri urged the party to act decisively to protect its future.

Former South-West National Vice Chairman Eddy Olafeso also weighed in, criticising Wike’s interpretation of the law surrounding Anyanwu’s status. However, PDP National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.), defended Wike’s stance, affirming that the Supreme Court ruling recognises Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary.

The conflict has also divided regional chapters of the party. In the South-West, PDP Vice Chairman Kamoru Ajisafe rejected Wike’s communique, maintaining that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)—the highest operational body—has already made its decision, with the Deputy National Secretary acting in Anyanwu’s stead. He stressed that any changes to this arrangement must follow established procedures and be approved by the NEC.

Similarly, the Bauchi State chapter distanced itself from Wike’s demands. The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Dayyabu Ciroma, said decisions regarding the convention and national leadership remain the prerogative of the PDP’s national organs. While refraining from taking sides, Ciroma expressed confidence that the national leadership would address the issues effectively.

In Oyo State, the PDP described Wike’s Abuja meeting as irrelevant and unofficial. Publicity Secretary Micheal Ogunsina dismissed the gathering as a private affair involving Wike’s “followers and friends,” rather than a legitimate party event. He confirmed that Governor Makinde was instead engaged in discussions with Senator Bukola Saraki, head of the party’s reconciliation committee, on the same day the Abuja meeting occurred.

As the convention date approaches, the PDP appears determined to proceed despite internal wrangling. The NEC meeting scheduled for June 30 is expected to address the mounting tensions and chart a path forward. Whether the party can reconcile its warring factions and present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections remains to be seen.