Wike withdraws from PDP reconciliation efforts, blames Makinde for party’s crisis

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has formally withdrawn from all existing reconciliation efforts aimed at resolving the internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), declaring his intent to continue the fight until, in his words, justice is served.

In a personally signed statement released to Vanguard on Sunday, Wike accused the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, of being the principal instigator of the party’s current troubles. He said he communicated this directly to Makinde during a meeting of the G5 group in Lagos, attributing the party’s woes to a persistent failure to honour agreements, with Makinde bearing significant responsibility.

Wike recounted that post-2023 general elections, the PDP made efforts to heal its internal divisions, which were marked by dishonesty and mistrust among key stakeholders. He disclosed that a subsequent meeting held in Abuja brought together himself, Governor Makinde, Governors Umaru Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki at Saraki’s guest residence. At the meeting, Wike said he resolved lingering differences with Bala Mohammed, whom he accused of serially violating agreements while serving as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

That Abuja meeting, he noted, produced several resolutions. These included affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the PDP in line with a Supreme Court judgement, the withdrawal of all court cases relating to Rivers State by the party’s National Legal Adviser, the immediate discontinuation of a suit seeking a state of emergency, and a firm agreement that all parties would abide by the terms agreed upon.

Despite these understandings, Wike alleged that Governor Makinde, in collaboration with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, orchestrated efforts to undermine party unity. He cited a South-East leaders’ meeting allegedly convened by Makinde, where participants reportedly threatened to leave the PDP unless Ude Okoye was installed as National Secretary, a position Wike strongly rejected.

He further accused Makinde of manipulating party officials to enable the Deputy National Secretary to act in the capacity of National Secretary, contrary to existing agreements. Wike highlighted additional infractions, including a letter convening a National Executive Committee meeting signed by the Deputy National Secretary and another incident involving a rebuttal of a letter confirming the party’s governorship candidate in Anambra, both of which he claimed were directed by Makinde and Mbah.

Wike cited a recent crisis as evidence: the aborted PDP zonal congress in Jos on 24 May 2025, which was boycotted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to the invitation being improperly signed by the Deputy National Secretary instead of the court-recognised Senator Anyanwu.

Describing these actions as “provocative and distasteful,” Wike reaffirmed his longstanding loyalty and sacrifices for the PDP since 1998, which he said far outweigh those of the individuals currently destabilising the party. He expressed dismay that, despite his support in securing electoral victories for many governors, he had never made personal demands, seeking only to preserve trust within the party.

In conclusion, Wike stated that the persistent breach of agreements, including during the North-Central zonal elections, has left him with no choice but to withdraw from all reconciliation arrangements. He vowed to press on until justice is restored in the PDP.