The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic new turn, as former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has formally withdrawn from the party’s ongoing reconciliation process. Wike blames Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for what he calls “a betrayal of trust” and “alignment with the party’s national establishment.”
Wike, a central figure in the influential G-5 bloc of PDP governors, has reportedly severed political ties with Makinde, citing his alleged collaboration with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the PDP National Working Committee—an alliance Wike believes undercuts the bloc’s earlier stance against the party’s leadership.
“The game has changed,” a source close to Wike said. “Governor Makinde has made his choice, and it’s not with those of us who stood against injustice within the party.”
The fallout has also been linked to Makinde’s silence over the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, where Wike is embroiled in a bitter battle with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Although the two met privately in Lagos earlier this month in what was seen as a last-ditch attempt to mend fences, sources confirm that no meaningful progress was achieved. The meeting reportedly focused on disputes over the South-South zonal leadership and the appointment of the party’s National Secretary—issues that remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, the PDP continues to grapple with broader internal fractures. The party is now effectively split between factions loyal to Atiku and Wike, leading to suspensions, court cases, and strategic deadlocks at both the national and state levels.
Political analysts warn that unless urgent and sincere reconciliation is achieved, the PDP’s prospects in the 2027 general elections may be severely undermined.
As one party insider put it, “If the PDP cannot fix its house now, it may be too late when the real campaign begins.”