By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
The crisis rocking Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has taken a dramatic turn as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, launched a scathing attack on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and other party leaders, accusing them of serial betrayal and sabotage of the party’s unity efforts.
In an statement titled “PDP Crisis: My Position”, signed by the minister on Sunday, the former Rivers State governor and influential PDP stalwart laid bare what he described as a pattern of dishonesty and treachery that has plagued the party since the 2023 general elections.
Wike traced the party’s current crisis to what he called “a fundamental lack of trust among key stakeholders” following the 2023 polls. Revealing details of failed reconciliation attempts, the minister stated: “I made it clear to Governor Seyi Makinde that he was the architect of our problems,” recalling a meeting of the influential G5 group in Lagos. “Non-adherence to agreements reached has been the bane of this party, and he remains the chief culprit of this anomaly.”
The FCT minister provided a detailed account of reconciliation efforts that ultimately collapsed, including an expanded meeting at the guest house of former Senate President Bukola Saraki attended by Governors Makinde, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Saraki himself.
At these meetings, he explained that several resolutions were reached including the recognition of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary per Supreme Court judgment, withdrawal of all Rivers State-related legal matters, discontinuation of the state of emergency suit, and strict adherence to all agreements.
Despite these resolutions, Wike alleged that Governor Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mba conspired to violate the agreements even before the Saraki reconciliation committee could commence work. The minister made specific allegations including orchestrating a meeting of South-East leaders to demand Ude Okoye as National Secretary instead of Anyanwu, manipulating the party secretariat to have the Deputy National Secretary illegally convene a National Executive Committee meeting, and issuing a rebuttal letter through the National Publicity Secretary to nullify a properly signed document regarding the Anambra governorship candidate.
The most consequential breach, according to Wike, occurred on May 24 when INEC refused to monitor the PDP’s North-Central zonal congress in Jos because the invitation letter was signed by the Deputy National Secretary rather than the legally recognized National Secretary. This development, which Wike described as “undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying,” appears to have been the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
In a deeply personal section of his statement, Wike reflected on his 27-year commitment to the PDP since its formation in 1998, lamenting that despite helping many of the current governors win their elections, they have chosen to betray the party. “What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections,” he stated, “yet they choose to betray the very party that brought them to power.”
The minister declared he would no longer participate in any reconciliation efforts, vowing instead to “fight on until justice is attained.”
This dramatic declaration raises serious questions about the PDP’s ability to present a united front ahead of 2027 elections.
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