The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified this week as Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike launched fresh attacks on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, deepening long‑standing divisions within the opposition party.
Wike’s outburst followed comments credited to Makinde, who alleged that the former Rivers governor told President Bola Tinubu during a meeting that he would “hold the PDP” for him ahead of the 2027 elections. Makinde described the alleged statement as shocking and damaging to the party’s unity.
Wike fired back, dismissing Makinde’s claims as false and accusing him of spreading misinformation. He insisted that his meeting with Tinubu had nothing to do with PDP affairs and accused Makinde of causing instability within the party. Wike also alleged that Makinde harbors political ambitions he has not openly declared.
Once Close Allies in 2023, Now Bitter Rivals
The clash marks a dramatic reversal in the relationship between Wike and Makinde, who were strongly aligned during the 2023 elections as part of the influential G‑5 Governors, also known as the Integrity Group.
The bloc — comprising Wike, Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi — opposed the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and demanded that the party’s national chairman step down for a southerner.
Their alliance shaped the PDP’s internal politics throughout the 2023 cycle, with Makinde even endorsing Bola Tinubu in Oyo State — a move widely seen as influenced by Wike’s political posture at the time.
The current feud underscores how far the once‑powerful alliance has fractured.
Wike vs. Fubara: Rivers Crisis Reignites
Wike also criticized Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC. He argued that Fubara’s move was driven by desperation and claimed the governor lacked the political structure to survive in his new party.
The two have been locked in a bitter political battle since late 2023, a conflict that has repeatedly destabilized governance in Rivers State.
Makinde’s Camp Responds
Makinde’s allies maintain that Wike’s political behavior has been harmful to the PDP, accusing him of undermining the party from within and weakening its influence in the Southwest. They argue that Wike’s open alignment with the APC contradicts the PDP’s goals and has contributed to the party’s deepening internal crisis.
Other PDP Leaders Weigh In
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose also entered the fray, accusing Makinde of destroying PDP structures in the Southwest and sidelining loyal party members.
His comments highlight the extent to which the PDP is now divided into multiple warring factions, each blaming the other for the party’s declining cohesion.
A Party in Turmoil Ahead of 2027
Political observers say the latest confrontation underscores the PDP’s growing fragmentation, with key figures openly clashing over control, loyalty, and strategy.
The party has struggled to maintain unity since the 2023 elections, and the ongoing disputes threaten to weaken its prospects ahead of the 2027 polls.
The PDP has not issued an official statement addressing the latest round of internal hostilities.
