PDP insists on convention despite new demands from Wike’s camp
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday inaugurated its 119-member 2025 National Convention Organising Committee, with leaders warning that they will no longer tolerate acts capable of undermining the party or the convention. From the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, to the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, and the Board of Trustees […]
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday inaugurated its 119-member 2025 National Convention Organising Committee, with leaders warning that they will no longer tolerate acts capable of undermining the party or the convention.
From the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, to the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, and the Board of Trustees Chairman, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, the message was consistent: the party was ready to move forward, and enough is enough.
Their tough stance comes after the camp of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, issued fresh conditions for the conduct of the November 15th and 16th, 2025, elective National Convention of the party slated for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The PDP has been embroiled in crisis since the conduct of its 2023 presidential primaries, which produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate.
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Following Atiku’s emergence, the runner-up and then Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, rallied some of his colleague governors, including Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). Together, they formed the G-5 and worked against Atiku’s election.
Wike went on to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence, a move for which he has been rewarded with the post of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, even though he is still a member of the PDP, Wike has consistently said he will remain in the party while also pledging to work for Tinubu’s re-election, a position many PDP members are uncomfortable with.
Before now, the party was engulfed in a serious crisis over the position of National Secretary, between Samuel Anyanwu, supported by Wike, and Sunday Ude-Okoye, who had the backing of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.
Many party leaders thought the consensus to allow Anyanwu to return as National Secretary would assuage Wike. But ahead of the Ibadan convention, the FCT minister has come up with fresh demands.
Ex-Rivers gov’s loyalists give conditions
Members loyal to Wike met Monday night and gave new conditions for the peaceful conduct of the November national convention in Ibadan.
Daily Trust gathered that those at the meeting included former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and National Secretary Anyanwu.
The group, styling itself as Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP, said after reviewing the state of the party and assessing issues ahead of the convention, it agreed with the NEC-approved zoning committee’s recommendation to maintain the status quo. But it stressed: “We further, and very strongly, hold that there should be no form of micro-zoning for peace and stability within the party.”
It also insisted that the National Chairman should remain in the North-Central, in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention.
According to the group: “Failure to comply with the above resolutions and demands shall render any purported national convention invalid, as legitimate members of the party would be disenfranchised.”
Other demands included a call on the National Working Committee to urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states in line with court judgements; the conduct of a fresh and legitimate South-East zonal congress; the recognition of the outcome of the South-South congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, already validated by the courts; and the immediate conduct of the Ekiti State local government congresses in obedience to subsisting court rulings.
The communiqué added that unity cannot be built on disenfranchisement, exclusion, or disregard for valid judicial pronouncements. “A credible National Convention must be anchored on transparency, fairness, and respect for the rule of law as well as inclusivity,” it declared.
Enough is enough – Bala Mohammed
But speaking at the inauguration of the 119-member Convention Organising Committee at the PDP headquarters in Abuja, PDP Governors Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed declared that they “cannot continue to keep quiet and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse.”
He praised Damagum’s leadership and the calibre of the convention committee, saying, “The pedigree and capacity of this leadership are not in doubt. They have done it before, and we believe they will do it very well. The governors are with you, the members of this party, and of course the committee.”
Bala, who is also Governor of Bauchi State, applauded the NWC’s sacrifice in bringing consensus to the party but warned that, “Certainly, the time has come when we must flex our muscles. We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. We are capable of navigating this party beyond shenanigans, beyond arrogance, and beyond impunity. Enough is enough. We will no longer allow or tolerate anybody to take us for granted.”
He added that, “It has to stop. Enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate it any longer. Yes, consensus. Yes, accommodation. But accommodation cannot mean stupidity. We are with you, Mr Chairman, on this journey.”
“We cannot continue to keep quiet and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That is their job. And our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse.”
Damagum: National convention sacrosanct
On his part, National Chairman Damagum reaffirmed that the convention would hold as scheduled, declaring, “Our convention for November 15 and 16 is sacrosanct.”
He said the inauguration of the committee marked an important step in sustaining “our great party through the instrumentality of balloting.”
Damagum listed Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State as chairman, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun as vice chairman, and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu as secretary.
He noted the importance of the convention, which would elect new national officers to lead the PDP into the next general elections. “While the faction that broke out has not garnered much traction, politics is dynamic, and the ruling class may seek to capitalise on such distractions to weaken the PDP, which remains the only dominant opposition,” he warned.
Damagum said his leadership had prioritised reconciliation and repositioning, adding that “The PDP is not broken. The PDP is not defeated. The PDP is marching forward, stronger, more determined, and better prepared to reclaim the presidency.”
Makarfi: You can contest if you disagree
Former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, who represented BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, said the BoT would continue to work with the NWC and governors to ensure PDP’s success.
He explained that while zoning had been endorsed, democracy still allowed anyone to test their popularity: “If you disagree, buy the form, go to the field, and test your capacity.”
He called for consensus-building, noting, “There is no need to raise temperatures. We have always built consensus, and now we need it more than ever.”
Fintiri: I won’t place friendship above PDP
Committee Chairman and Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said he would seek consensus but would not put personal relationships above party interests.
He assured members, “We are bringing to bear the wealth of experience from past conventions, and we will do even better to ensure a credible convention in Ibadan.”
Fintiri urged stakeholders to respect the party process and avoid taking disputes to the media, adding, “Every stakeholder in this party is my friend, but I will not place our relationship above this party. I will deliver on my assignment.”
PDP acted too late on Wike – Analyst
Speaking on the latest development, political analyst Prof. Kamilu Sani Fage warned that the PDP risks another implosion if it fails to decisively address Wike’s demands.
“Wike has become a cog in the wheel of the PDP. He acts as if he owns the party and dictates everything,” Fage said, describing the fresh conditions as “undemocratic and sabotaging.”
He faulted the party for responding too late: “They should have acted at the beginning, but now Wike has built a following to do his bidding.”
Fage added that Wike has consistently worked against the PDP since 2023 by campaigning for Tinubu, accepting a ministerial role in the APC government, and undermining the PDP nationally and in Rivers.
He cautioned that “The party must enforce discipline. Nobody owns the PDP. If they allow Wike to continue, he will cause greater problems.”
According to him, the PDP risks repeating its 2015 implosion if it fails to act: “If it wants to be relevant, it must take a decisive stand and put its house in order. Otherwise, what happened in 2015 could repeat itself in 2027.”