he ongoing leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, publicly attacked Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accusing him of exacerbating the party’s internal turmoil. In a statement shared with Premium Times on Sunday, Wike elaborated on specific allegations against Makinde, calling him the “architect” of the discord within the largest opposition party.
Wike, a prominent figure in the PDP and leader of the G5 governors, revealed that since the 2023 general elections, the party has been struggling with a deepening crisis stemming from a lack of trust and honesty among its leaders. Wike claimed that Makinde, once his ally, had undermined the party’s efforts to resolve its internal conflicts by sabotaging crucial agreements.
Wike Accuses Makinde of Sabotage
In his statement, Wike recounted a meeting in Lagos where he confronted Makinde, accusing him of breaching trust by failing to adhere to previously agreed-upon resolutions. The G5 governors, a group of PDP state leaders discontented with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and former National Chairperson, Iyorchia Ayu, had hoped to resolve the party’s crisis.
“I told Makinde that he was the architect of our problems. The failure to adhere to agreements was the root cause of the party’s dysfunction,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor described how subsequent meetings, including a critical one at Saraki’s guest house in Abuja, sought to address the ongoing tensions. There, top party figures, including Acting National Chairperson Bala Mohammed, were involved in attempts to resolve conflicts, but Wike accused Makinde of continuing to undermine the process.
Rising Tensions within PDP
The former governor pointed to specific instances where Makinde, in collaboration with other PDP leaders, ignored party agreements. One such violation occurred when Makinde allegedly conspired with Peter Mbah of Enugu State to call a meeting of South-East leaders. The outcome of the meeting suggested that if Sunday Ude-Okoye was not appointed national secretary of the PDP, the region would consider pulling out of the party, an outcome Wike deemed unacceptable.
Wike also criticized Makinde for orchestrating efforts to replace the national secretary, which led to confusion and legal challenges within the party. “The deputy national secretary was pushed to act as national secretary, going against the agreement,” he added. Additionally, a critical meeting on the party’s Anambra governorship candidate, which was expected to be validated by the national secretary, was rejected by key figures within the party, allegedly on the instructions of Makinde.
Wike: “I’ll Fight On”
Despite the ongoing struggles, Wike has vowed to continue his fight within the PDP, emphasizing that he will not back down from his mission to restore integrity and fairness to the party. He expressed frustration over the continuous failure to uphold agreements, particularly in the North-Central zonal elections, and declared that he would pull out of all previous agreements if necessary.
“I’ve decided to fight on until justice is attained,” Wike said, pointing to his long-standing contributions to the party and his efforts in helping numerous PDP governors win their elections without seeking personal gain.
Legal Challenges and Leadership Dispute
The leadership dispute within the PDP, particularly over the position of national secretary, has become a major source of contention. Following a series of legal battles, the matter has reached Nigeria’s Supreme Court. The dispute centers on whether Samuel Anyanwu, the substantive national secretary, or Ude-Okoye, nominated by the South-East PDP, should hold the position.
The case has seen numerous court rulings, with conflicting decisions from lower courts. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling in March 2025 upheld the legitimacy of Anyanwu’s position, a decision that some in the South-East PDP have disputed. Despite the court’s ruling, Ude-Okoye assumed office in December 2023, leading to further legal complexities and confusion within the party.
PDP’s Future in Limbo
The PDP’s future remains uncertain as factions within the party continue to clash over leadership positions and regional influence. The party faces further challenges with upcoming elections and an internal struggle for control, as Wike’s latest statements indicate that a resolution may still be far from reach.
“I have been in this party since 1998 and have worked tirelessly for its survival. Despite my sacrifices, it’s painful to see how some leaders undermine the party for personal gain,” Wike lamented.
The crisis within the PDP shows no sign of abating, and with the stakes so high, the party’s future leadership and unity will depend on how effectively these internal conflicts are resolved.