Wike Tackles Makinde Over PDP Crisis, Says Oyo Governor ‘Started a Fight He Can’t Win’

A dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over comments tied to the party’s internal crisis.

Wike made his remarks on Monday during a meeting of the National Executive Committee aligned with a faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed. The gathering comes amid continuing disagreement within the party following a court ruling that nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, which produced Kabiru Turaki as national chairman.

The judgment has deepened divisions, with rival blocs maintaining separate positions while calls for reconciliation grow ahead of the 2027 general elections. Stakeholders have warned that prolonged disputes could affect the party’s ability to present candidates.

Makinde, speaking on Sunday, aligned with Turaki’s faction and suggested that engagement with Wike’s camp amounted to indirect support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Responding to that position, Wike dismissed Makinde’s stance, accusing him of escalating tensions and suggesting he entered a contest he is unlikely to win. His comments reflect the widening rift between factions that have yet to agree on a unified direction for the party.

At the same meeting, Mohammed confirmed that the faction-led national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 will proceed as planned, despite reports of attempts by the opposing bloc to disrupt it. He also urged members to maintain internal discipline and cohesion as the party navigates the dispute.