PDP Crisis: Makinde Shuns “Gutter Politics” as Wike Camp Rejects Zoning Talks

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike openly disagreed over the party’s leadership and zoning arrangements ahead of the National Convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking at the PDP Southern Consultative Summit held in Lagos, Governor Makinde declared that he would not engage in personal battles despite the growing tension within the opposition party.

“Personally, when people go low or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. We will reach out to them. That is democracy. I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here,” Makinde told party leaders.

The Lagos summit, attended by PDP governors, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, former governors, and National Assembly members from the South, focused on zoning and repositioning the party ahead of its NEC meeting on Monday. Makinde insisted that the priority was to unite the PDP and present a strong alternative to Nigerians.

Wike’s Camp Rejects Southern Zoning Summit

Hours before the Lagos meeting, Wike’s loyalists rejected the gathering, dismissing it as illegal and unrepresentative of Southern stakeholders. In a statement signed by PDP chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states, alongside lawmakers including House Minority Leader O.K. Chinda and several senators, the group condemned the Lagos summit as divisive.

The statement accused the organizers of deliberately excluding key party officers, former governors, and National Working Committee members, warning that any resolutions from the meeting should be disregarded.

They further alleged that the summit was “premature and targeted at protecting the selfish ambitions of a few.”

Despite the divisions, Makinde expressed optimism that the PDP remained relevant, citing recent by-elections where the party performed strongly.

“In Oyo State, Nigerians showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead, and in most of the 12 states where by-elections took place, PDP came second. If we continue to work hard and bring our people together, Nigerians will listen to us,” he said.

Makinde emphasized that discussions on the presidential ticket were secondary to stabilizing the party, noting that “we need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates.”

Wike Declares Support for Tinubu’s Allies

Amid the crisis, Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, reiterated his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that he would support anyone aligned with the current administration.

During the flag-off of a water project in Karu, Abuja, Wike said:

“Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him. For me, I’m here to talk about those who have access to the government and bring something to the people. The chairman of AMAC has access to us. Anything he tells us, we will do.”

The former Rivers governor emphasized that his focus was on delivering development to residents, adding that past governments had failed to meet basic needs such as water supply.

Meanwhile, sources within the PDP revealed that the Governors’ Forum will convene in Zamfara State this weekend to strategize ahead of the Ibadan convention. Party insiders say the meeting is aimed at resolving outstanding issues through political solutions, with leaders determined to ensure the convention holds as scheduled.

Observers believe the convention will be critical to the survival of the PDP as it seeks to rebuild and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.