PDP interim leadership defies Wike, insists primaries, convention will hold

The interim leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has declared that its primaries and national convention will proceed as scheduled, dismissing attempts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to disrupt the process.

At the centre of the dispute is the battle for control of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the interim leadership, chaired by Kabiru Turaki, asserting its authority and confirming that the sale of nomination forms is already underway.

In a strongly worded statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, the party dismissed Wike’s earlier media comments, describing them as unbecoming.

“Nigerians today witnessed what can only be described as an unsolicited display of political rascality, moral emptiness, crass opportunism, and post-defeat trauma,” the statement read.

The party said while it would ordinarily ignore such remarks, it chose to address Nigerians directly, even offering what it described as an apology for previously supporting Wike’s rise in public office.

“This statement is not a reply to his tirade… but an apology to Nigerians for having, at any point, enabled a public figure whose conduct has become a national embarrassment,” Ememobong added.

The PDP interim leadership also dismissed claims that Wike could assume any overarching leadership role within the party, stressing that such a position does not exist in its constitution.

It further insisted that ongoing processes—including the sale of nomination forms, primaries, and the national convention—would not be derailed by external pressure or internal dissent.

“The process is underway and will not be derailed,” the statement emphasised, adding that threats allegedly made by Wike to frustrate financial institutions dealing with the party were unfounded.

On the legal disputes referenced by the minister, the party said it was awaiting certified true copies of relevant court rulings and challenged him to clarify the details of the cases he cited.

Reaffirming its stance, the leadership assured Nigerians that no amount of intimidation would halt its activities, expressing confidence that its processes would ultimately produce a credible presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.