PORTHARCOURT: The internal crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took a sharper turn on Monday as the party’s leadership openly clashed with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who in turn launched scathing attacks on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The fresh round of exchanges followed Wike’s end-of-year media chat at his Port Harcourt residence, where he dismissed claims by Makinde that he had vowed to hold down the PDP in support of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“That is a blatant lie, Wike said, questioning why Makinde waited so long to raise the allegation if it was truly made during a 2024 meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Makinde had earlier told journalists that Wike made the comment during a post-election visit to President Tinubu, stressing that while Wike was free to support any candidate, his own concern was the survival of democracy and the PDP.
Wike, however, accused the Oyo governor of acting in bad faith, insisting the meeting included several PDP governors and party leaders, and that no such statement was made. He described Makinde’s account as unfair and mischievous.
The former Rivers governor also revisited Makinde’s political journey, responding to claims that Makinde was already financially successful while he was still in law school.
According to Wike, wealth alone did not deliver electoral success for Makinde until the PDP leadership handed him control of the party structure in Oyo State.
Wike recalled Makinde’s earlier electoral losses under different parties before emerging victorious in 2019, adding pointedly that while Makinde chose to be a contractor, he chose political power and succeeded at it.
Beyond the personal exchanges, Wike accused Makinde of being the main force behind the PDP’s prolonged leadership crisis, alleging that unchecked presidential ambition plunged the party into court battles, internal divisions and defections.
According to Wike, the crisis weakened the PDP so badly that it failed to present candidates in some off-cycle governorship elections, raising concerns about the party’s future relevance.
Despite the turmoil, Wike said the PDP could still recover if it embraced discipline and decisive leadership.
However, the party’s National Working Committee pushed back strongly, describing Wike as a habitual troublemaker whose political relevance depended on constant conflict.
In a statement by its spokesman, the PDP accused Wike of repeatedly instigating leadership crises for selfish reasons and engaging in anti-party activities while openly backing the APC.
Party leaders also recalled Wike’s past roles in previous leadership disputes and accused him of undermining the PDP even while claiming membership.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Professionals in the PDP accused Wike of deliberately working to weaken the opposition ahead of 2027, warning of a growing push toward a one-party state.
Turning to Rivers politics, Wike dismissed claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection to the APC guaranteed him political control or an automatic ticket in 2027. He noted that most political structures in the state had already moved before the governor followed suit.
Wike also criticized Fubara for claiming credit for inherited projects and warned politicians against breaking agreements, insisting that loyalty alone does not guarantee electoral success.
As the PDP crisis deepens, political observers say the open confrontation between Wike, party leaders and serving governors highlights the growing fragmentation within the opposition, raising doubts about unity as the countdown to the 2027 elections continues.
