Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, may have agreed to make key concessions in a bid to foster unity within the party ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to a reliable source who spoke to The PUNCH, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, met with Wike in Lagos last week on behalf of the PDP Governors Forum to deliberate on critical issues threatening the cohesion of the party.
The source revealed that the discussions centred around resolving the long-running political crisis in Rivers State between Wike and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as well as disputes over the South-South zonal leadership, the unresolved National Secretary position, and other matters designed to accommodate the interests of all factions within the PDP.
Since the 2023 general elections, the PDP has been battling a series of internal crises. The situation escalated further with the rift between Governor Fubara and Wike in Rivers State, compounded by leadership disputes at the South-South zonal level and the vacancy in the office of the party’s National Secretary since December 2024.
Efforts by major organs of the party—the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, and the PDP Governors Forum—to broker peace have instead deepened divisions, leading to fragmentation across state and zonal chapters.
Amid this ongoing turmoil, several disillusioned party leaders have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, citing the PDP’s unresolved internal challenges. On April 23, the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; and other top officials from the state formally joined the APC—a significant blow to the PDP’s strength and credibility ahead of 2027.
The insider close to Governor Makinde disclosed that after the meeting, Makinde committed to briefing his fellow governors on the outcomes, while Wike would relay the details to his supporters.
The source said, “Makinde and Wike met in Lagos, where Makinde represented the PDP governors and Wike attended on behalf of his loyalists.
“During the meeting, Wike expressed concerns about the Governors Forum’s recommendations, claiming they were made without considering party laws. He stated that some of the positions taken by the governors were illegal. The minister also pointed out that despite the Forum’s numerous positions, it has only succeeded in complicating matters rather than resolving them.
“Wike informed Makinde and other PDP leaders that he was unhappy with the Forum’s decisions regarding the National Secretary, South-South Zonal leadership, and the ongoing issues in Rivers State.
“He promised to stay in the PDP but requested that the forum and party leadership reconsider their positions on these issues in accordance with the party’s considering, to ensure peace, unity, and help reposition the party.”
Governor Makinde, in his response, also reportedly voiced his frustration over the conduct of some party officials, which he said had aggravated the party’s internal tensions.
The source continued, “In his response, Makinde also mentioned that the attitude of some officials towards the PDP governors was disrespectful and was not helping the situation. He reassured Wike that no one was trying to embarrass anyone, but rather, everyone was doing their best to reposition the party.
“Makinde promised to brief the governors on or before the forum’s next meeting and assured Wike of his support. They both agreed that concerned members should withdraw the pending litigation and pursue political solutions.
“Additionally, they agreed that the Governors Forum’s decision on issues such as the zonal congress, especially that of the South-South, the Rivers State crisis, the National Secretary position, and other matters should be revisited to accommodate all interests.”
A senior member of the PDP National Working Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Makinde-Wike meeting was indeed aimed at resolving longstanding grievances and would play a key role in rebuilding party unity.
The source said, “Yes, Wike and Makinde met to resolve some issues, and their resolutions will go a long way in unifying and repositioning the PDP.”
Efforts to reach the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls placed by The PUNCH.
However, the party’s Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, expressed optimism that the Makinde-Wike dialogue, alongside other reconciliation efforts, would help reposition the PDP.
In an exclusive interview, Osadolor said party leaders were actively consulting and taking meaningful steps to reinforce the PDP’s foundation.
“Our leaders are not sleeping; a lot of meetings have taken place and more will take place in the future. The PDP will not only bounce back, but it will also reclaim its rightful place. I am sure you can see the movement taking shape as we speak,” he stated.
“It is already gaining momentum, and people are beginning to speak out and align themselves with the party. I believe that as the days unfold, we will see that this is truly the party to be a part of.
“At this moment, there is no other party to be in. The other party, APC, is like a ship with limited capacity. As more people crowd and overload it, it will either sink or capsize. It’s just a matter of time—it’s not a question of if, but when. And that will happen,” Osadolor declared.
