PDP Governors at the end of their forum's meeting held on Saturday at the Government House, Gusau
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has issued a stern rebuke to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and his allies, firmly rejecting attempts to disrupt the party’s national convention set for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
This resolute stance comes amid escalating tensions fueled by Wike’s public opposition to the convention and his demands for the reinstatement of certain party officials.
At the conclusion of their 7th meeting on August 23, 2025, in Gusau, Zamfara State, the governors, led by Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, released a communiqué that underscored their unwavering support for the decisions made during the PDP’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in July 2025.
The NEC had confirmed Ibadan as the venue for the convention, a choice that has sparked controversy due to Wike’s ongoing feud with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
“The Forum stands firmly behind the resolutions of the 101st NEC meeting, which designated Ibadan as the venue for our November 15 National Convention,” the communiqué stated, urging party members to “stand united against any efforts by anti-party elements to sabotage this critical event.”
Wike, a prominent PDP figure and former Rivers State governor, has openly challenged the party’s plans, claiming he was not invited to the NEC meeting that approved the convention’s venue. During an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on August 19, 2025, he stated, “I am not aware that they are going to a convention in Ibadan. As a NEC member, I have not been informed, nor have I been invited to the NEC meeting.”
However, evidence later surfaced contradicting his claim, with a letter dated July 10, 2025, signed by PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, confirming Wike’s invitation to the 101st NEC meeting. The letter was acknowledged and signed for by his office on July 18.
Wike’s opposition is rooted in his demand for the reinstatement of Chief Dan Orbih as the National Vice Chairman (South-South), following the PDP’s rejection of the South-South zonal congress held in Calabar. During a media chat on August 4, 2025, Wike warned, “The Calabar congress was duly conducted and must stand. Dan Orbih remains the authentic National Vice Chairman. Anything short of that is an invitation to crisis.”
He further threatened that failure to meet his conditions would reignite internal party conflicts, stating, “They said they are going for their convention in November. I am not part of it until they have corrected it.”
This stance has deepened his rift with Makinde, a former ally, as the choice of Ibadan—Makinde’s home state—is perceived as a strategic move to bolster the governor’s influence within the PDP..
The governors’ forum condemned such moves as attempts to undermine the party’s unity, emphasizing that the PDP remains “the only democratic institution capable of steering Nigeria toward good governance and national development.” They praised the resilience of PDP leaders and members in resisting orchestrated defections, asserting that these distractions would not weaken the party’s grassroots support or the public’s desire for the stability and affordability seen under previous PDP administrations.
The forum also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for policies that “continue to inflict hardship on Nigerians,” reaffirming their commitment to rescuing the nation through a unified PDP.
The meeting in Gusau also addressed broader national concerns, including rising insecurity and the erosion of democratic values under the current administration.
The governors called on party members to remain focused and work diligently toward a successful convention, which they view as pivotal for shaping the PDP’s strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Despite Wike’s threats and the internal power struggles, the PDP Governors’ Forum has made it clear that the convention will proceed as planned, signaling a bold stand against internal dissent and external pressures.
