The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has withdrawn from all peace and reconciliation agreements previously reached among leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing key stakeholders—particularly Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State of dishonesty and betrayal.
In a strongly worded press statement released on Saturday, Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, said the party has continued to suffer from internal strife due to “dishonesty and lack of trust among its key stakeholders.” He warned that unless fidelity to agreements is restored, the PDP risks further instability.
Wike disclosed that a recent meeting of the G5 governors held in Lagos was convened to resolve internal disputes and reaffirm unity. During the meeting, he openly accused Makinde of being the “architect of the party’s problems” for allegedly failing to adhere to agreements. Despite the tensions, he said the group resolved to “bury the hatchet and make progress.”
Following the Lagos meeting, an expanded session was held in Abuja at the residence of former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The meeting was attended by Governors Makinde, Umaru Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, and Saraki himself. Wike recounted that he again expressed concerns over the conduct of Bala Mohammed, whom he accused of repeatedly reneging on agreements under the guise of chairing the PDP Governors’ Forum.
The group eventually resolved that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the National Secretary in line with a Supreme Court ruling, and also agreed to withdraw all legal actions related to Rivers State and the proposed state of emergency in the state.
However, Wike said those resolutions have since been “crudely violated.”
He accused Makinde of colluding with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to convene a meeting of South-East leaders, who allegedly threatened to exit the party unless Ude Okoye was installed as National Secretary, contrary to the earlier agreement.
He also condemned actions taken by some party officials at the National Secretariat to appoint a Deputy National Secretary in acting capacity, and to issue a letter countering the nomination of the party’s Anambra governorship candidate.
Wike further lamented the failure of the PDP to conduct its North-Central zonal congress in Jos on May 24, blaming it on an unauthorized letter signed by the Deputy National Secretary, which led to INEC’s refusal to attend.
“I have been in this party since 1998 and have worked tirelessly for its survival,” Wike stated.
“None of these persons have done anything close to what I have done to sustain this party… I had thought that we could keep the trust among us, but since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party, I have firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached.”
He vowed to “fight on until justice is attained,” insisting that he has never made any personal demands from those he supported politically.
Political analysts were of the opinion that Wike’s statement would deepen the crisis within the PDP, which has been grappling with internal conflicts since the 2023 general elections.
