PDP Governors Move to Break Convention Deadlock as Wike’s Camp Rejects Lagos Zoning Talks

As preparations intensify for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Elective Convention slated for November in Ibadan, Oyo State, fresh cracks have emerged within the opposition party.

The camp loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday rejected the outcome of the Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative meeting held in Lagos, dismissing it as “illegal and divisive”.

Meanwhile, the PDP Governors’ Forum is set to convene in Zamfara this weekend to deliberate on critical issues threatening the unity of the party. According to a reliable source within the PDP National Working Committee, the governors are expected to arrive in Gusau on Friday ahead of Saturday’s closed-door meeting.

At the centre of the dispute is the work of the 44-member zoning committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, which is tasked with recommending a formula for sharing the 19 National Working Committee positions between North and South. The committee is scheduled to submit its proposals to the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 102nd meeting on Monday.

However, hours before Wednesday’s Lagos meeting, state chairmen and key stakeholders aligned with Wike’s camp publicly distanced themselves from the gathering. In a joint statement, PDP chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states, alongside senators, House members, and former national officers, dismissed the resolutions. “Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus,” they declared, accusing organisers of sidelining state chairmen, national officers and other critical stakeholders.

The statement described the Lagos meeting as a ploy to advance the “selfish ambitions of a select few” and warned that any attempt to legitimise its outcome would be resisted.

Reacting, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, a strong backer of the convention, defended the Lagos parley. He stressed that it was aimed at repositioning the PDP as a stronger party ahead of 2027. “When people go low, I don’t go with them. We can disagree, but it should never be personal. Nigerians are watching. Our efforts must be focused on building a vibrant PDP that people will trust again” Makinde said.

Makinde added that talk of zoning the party’s presidential ticket was premature, arguing that the priority was first to ensure unity and a successful convention. He insisted recent election results proved the PDP remained a force in Nigerian politics.

Dignitaries at the Lagos session included PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, Governor Douye Diri, Governor Ademola Adeleke, Enugu Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai (representing Governor Peter Mba), Bode George, Monsurat Sunmonu, and other prominent southern leaders.

Party sources confirmed that the Zamfara meeting of PDP governors will focus squarely on clearing obstacles to the Ibadan convention. “The convention is crucial to the future of the PDP. Our leaders are ready to adopt political solutions where possible, but will also apply necessary pressure to ensure it holds as scheduled” one insider revealed.

In a separate development, Wike stirred further controversy on Thursday when he openly declared his support for politicians aligned with President Bola Tinubu. Speaking at the flag-off of a water supply project in Karu, the FCT Minister praised former Senator Philip Aduda and AMAC Chairman Christopher Maikalangu, pledging to back “anyone who supports Tinubu”
“For me, I will support those the government listens to. Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support” he said.

Wike’s remarks are expected to intensify speculation about his political allegiance ahead of the PDP’s convention and the 2027 elections.