PDP Unstable As Makinde, Wike Battle For Control

The growing conflict between the factions loyal to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is threatening the planned 99th National Executive Committee meeting on May 27th.

In a statement released on Sunday, Wike announced his withdrawal from the reconciliation efforts, blaming Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for the crisis within the PDP.

Anonymous sources within the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that due to the ongoing crisis and the threat to the NEC meeting, the party’s Board of Trustees called for a meeting on Monday (today) in Abuja

Multiple sources disclosed that recognising the potential harm a postponement could cause to the party’s future, the reconciliation panel led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders on Sunday night.

The PDP has been struggling with internal political turmoil before and after the 2023 elections.

Issues such as the political crisis in Rivers State, disputes surrounding the South South Zonal Congress, the position of National Secretary, and now the North Central Zonal Congress have further complicated the party’s stability.

Wike, backed by Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Taraba), and others, angered that decisions made by the National Working Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum — largely influenced by Governors Makinde, Mbah, and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)—undermined the political structure of the Minister Federal Capital Territory.

Despite interventions from key organs like the NWC, the Board of Trustees, NEC, and the Governors’ Forum, attempts at resolving the disputes have only widened internal rifts across states and zones. This ongoing discord has delayed the NEC meeting and hindered the party from making critical decisions about its direction.

The 98th NEC meeting, held on April 18, 2024, failed to resolve major issues, further fueling disunity. Though the 99th NEC meeting was initially scheduled for August 15, it faced multiple postponements—to October 24, then November 28—before being put off indefinitely.

Under increasing pressure, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed, directed the NWC in December 2024 to convene the NEC no later than February 2025. This was reiterated during a meeting on January 31 in Asaba, where March 13 was suggested as the new date. However, the meeting was again postponed on March 8 to May 15, after further internal consultations.

Eventually, during a governors’ meeting in Ibadan on April 11, a new date of May 27 was set. To ensure it goes ahead, the serving and former governors seven-member committee led by former Senate President Saraki was formed to tackle remaining challenges.