PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike Withdraws from Peace Deal, Blames Oyo and Enugu Governors
Abuja, May 25, 2025 – The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened following the withdrawal of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from all previous reconciliation agreements aimed at resolving the party’s internal disputes. In a statement titled “PDP Crisis: My Position,” Wike accused key party leaders of betrayal, dishonesty, and sabotaging peace efforts, vowing to continue his struggle until justice is served.
Wike’s Accusations and Withdrawal
Wike laid the blame for the party’s turmoil squarely on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, whom he described as the “architect of the party’s problems.” He accused Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah of undermining critical resolutions, including the reaffirmation of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment. Wike alleged they pushed for the appointment of Ude Okoye and orchestrated an illegal National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting through the Deputy National Secretary, violating a “gentleman’s agreement” and damaging the party’s credibility.
He stated,
“Since after the 2023 General election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders.”
Despite multiple high-level meetings involving governors and party leaders—including Governors Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Umaru Fintiri, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and others—Wike said critical resolutions were blatantly disregarded. He expressed deep disappointment that those he helped politically had turned against him despite his substantial contributions to their electoral successes.
“I have been in this party since 1998 and have worked tirelessly for the survival of this party with all my strength… What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections, yet I have not made any personal demands on any of them and I would never do so.”
Impact on PDP and Next Steps
Wike’s withdrawal from the peace deal signals a significant setback for the PDP’s efforts to unify ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party remains deeply divided, with ongoing disputes over leadership positions and internal governance.
The National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, postponed a scheduled NEC meeting, citing irregularities related to the legitimacy of the meeting notice, which was signed by the Deputy National Secretary rather than himself. This development further highlights the factional disputes within the party.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja faces potential closure by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) over unpaid ground rent for over ten years, adding to the party’s woes.
Wike’s Position Moving Forward
In his statement, Wike declared,
“Most importantly, I had thought that we could keep the trust amongst us, but since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party… I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained.”
Wike’s decision to continue his struggle suggests that the PDP’s internal crisis may persist, complicating the party’s chances of presenting a united front in upcoming elections.
