PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike Camp Rejects Zoning Talks with Makinde, Diri
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified as the camp led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike outrightly rejected recent zoning discussions involving Governors Seyi Makinde and Douye Diri. This rejection has thrust the party into a deeper chasm of mistrust and factionalism, just ahead of a consequential National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.Vanguard NewsDaily Trust
During a consultative zoning meeting for southern PDP stakeholders in Lagos, Governor Makinde indicated that the NEC would finally settle zoning and related matters at an upcoming session. He described the meeting as inclusive, while emphasizing that zoning decisions rest with NEC, not with informal or symbolic gatherings. “A decision is coming, and it is an NEC decision… democracy is inclusivity,” Makinde asserted.Vanguard News
Despite the formal invitation extended to Wike’s camp, his group vehemently labeled the proceedings as “illegal,” rejecting any outcomes from the discussions involving Makinde and Diri. A coalition of PDP leaders from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states, alongside key Southeast party officials, denounced the meeting. They emphasized that these talks bypassed official PDP statutes and processes.Daily Trust
This rift builds on existing tensions that escalated when Wike withdrew from multiple reconciliation agreements. He accused Governor Makinde of being the “architect” of PDP’s internal strife, alleging broken pacts concerning National Secretary appointments, legal suits, and procedural adherence, an act he claims disrupted previous peace efforts. Wike vowed to continue his fight “until justice is attained,” signaling a prolonged impasse.The Guardian NigeriaBusinessday NGThe Nation NewspaperPulse Nigeria
Governors Makinde and Diri, meanwhile, reaffirm competing visions of party unity, but from differing perspectives. Makinde urged unity and tolerance, stressing they will “reach out to aggrieved members.” Wike’s unwavering resistance, interwoven with legal challenges, signals that reconciliation within the party will be neither swift nor straightforward.Vanguard NewsDaily Trust
The stakes are high, especially with the 2027 presidential race looming. Wike and Makinde are seen as major power players with divergent followings: Wike aligns with a faction often associated with firm hierarchical control, while Makinde is viewed as pushing for broader regional representation and renewal. The rejected zoning talks may foreshadow future alliances and power jockeying ahead of the party’s reorientation.Daily TrustVanguard News
NEC’s upcoming decision will be pivotal. If the Wike camp continues to disengage, it risks exacerbating public perceptions of internal PDP disunity and organizational decay. Conversely, reaching even fragile consensus may offer a pathway out of fragmentation. The meeting is now a test of the party’s capacity to manage dissent without compromising democratic process or party coherence.
