• Wike’s Camp: “National Convention Won’t Hold If….”
• PDP Govs: “National Convention ‘ll Hold Whether Wike likes It or Not
By Abiola Olawale
Latest developments emerging from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have revealed that the party might be teetering on the edge of a major national crisis as tensions between its governors and a group led by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike reach a boiling point ahead of the party’s November 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
It was gathered that the escalating feud is already threatening to derail the opposition party’s plans to elect new leadership and reposition itself for the 2027 general elections.
This comes after Wike’s camp, under the banner of Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders, issued a communiqué after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, demanding that six conditions should be met for the convention to proceed peacefully.
These include fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states, recognition of the South-South Zonal Congress outcome, and adherence to a Supreme Court ruling reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The group warned that failure to comply would render the convention “invalid”.
The group also said the National Chairman of the party should remain in the North-Central in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention.
Other demands of the group include: “A call on the NWC to “urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States, in line with judgments of the courts. That a fresh and legitimate South-East Zonal Congress should be conducted.
“That the outcome of the valid and legitimate South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, and recognised by the court be respected. That the Ekiti State Local Government Areas Congress should be conducted immediately, in obedience to the subsisting court judgement.”
However, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed, condemned the position of Wike and his group.
Speaking at the inauguration of the National Convention Committee, Mohammed said: ‘’We believe we have done it before, and we believe we will do it very well. The Governors are with you, members of this party, and, of course, members of this important committee.
‘’We are with the NWC. We appreciate the sacrifice they are making. And, of course, we are men who have brought consensus. We are on the way forward. We certainly can’t wait. The time has come when we must flex our muscles.
‘’We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others. We cannot continue to take part and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That’s our job. And our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse.
“And we are working as Governors and working with the committee to ensure that the keyword is discipline. We will no longer allow or tolerate anybody to take us for granted.”
Speaking also during the event, National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, insisted the convention will proceed as planned.
Damagum said: “Leaders, brothers and sisters of the PDP. This National Convention is of critical importance and it’s sacrosanct.
‘’The National Officers we elect will lead our great party into the next general elections and beyond. We must recognise that the challenges we face as the leading opposition are mutating, much to the dismay of well-meaning Nigerians.
“While the faction that broke out has not garnered much traction, we know that politics is dynamic, and the ruling class may seek to capitalise on or even sponsor such distractions to weaken the PDP, which remains the only dominant opposition party in our dear country, Nigeria.
‘’Permit me to share a few brief reflections, which I believe will help underscore the importance of this committee’s work. By fate and through political outcomes, I did not contest as National Chairman of the PDP; I was elected as Deputy National Chairman (North). Yet, for nearly two years now, first in an acting capacity and now substantively, I have been entrusted with chairing the affairs of this great party.
‘’Since assuming this responsibility, I have laboured with sincerity and utmost commitment to steady the ship of our party. In this period, we have pursued reconciliation, worked to reposition our structures, and ensured that despite challenges, the PDP remains the leading voice of the opposition and the enduring hope of millions of Nigerians. On this, we have succeeded.”
