PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike Camp Rejects Zoning Talks, Makinde Counters

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its November national convention in Ibadan took a new turn on Thursday as the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected the outcome of the Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative meeting held in Lagos.

The Lagos parley, convened by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, was part of the zoning committee’s ongoing consultations to recommend a formula for sharing the 19 National Working Committee positions between North and South. But Wike’s allies dismissed the talks as “illegal, divisive and unrepresentative.”

In a strongly-worded statement, PDP chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, alongside National Assembly leaders and other stakeholders, said the meeting was convened “nicodemously” without proper consultation. They warned that any resolution from the Lagos gathering would not be binding.

“It is deeply disturbing that such a meeting was convened without the courtesy of inviting several state chairmen, national officers and critical stakeholders of the PDP. Such brazen disregard for party structures risks undermining the foundation upon which our party was built,” the statement read.

Signatories, including Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kingsley Chinda and Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo and Mike Nnachi, accused organisers of pursuing “selfish ambitions” and vowed to resist any attempt to legitimise the Lagos outcome.

Makinde pushes back

But Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde defended the meeting, saying it was aimed at repositioning the PDP into a stronger and more united opposition.
“Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. That is democracy. I can disagree with people, but it shouldn’t be personal. Nigerians are watching,” he said.

Makinde stressed that the NEC, which meets next Monday, would decide on zoning, insisting the party must first consolidate before talking about presidential candidates.
“We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat,” he said.

Despite internal tensions, Makinde maintained that the PDP remains strong, noting that its performance in recent elections showed it was still the main challenger to the ruling APC.

Governors’ forum moves in

Meanwhile, the PDP Governors’ Forum is set to meet in Zamfara State on Saturday to deliberate on the convention deadlock and other issues threatening party unity. Governors are expected in Gusau on Friday ahead of the crucial meeting.

Present at the Lagos session were BOT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, Governors Douye Diri and Ademola Adeleke, representatives of Governor Peter Mba, PDP chieftains Bode George, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Monsurat Sunmonu, and 12 out of 17 PDP National Assembly members from the South.