Wike gives condition as PDP releases timetable for convention

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must recognise the outcome of the South-South zonal congress held in Calabar as a condition for allowing preparations for the national convention to proceed without crisis. At its last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in July, the party resolved to hold the convention […]

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must recognise the outcome of the South-South zonal congress held in Calabar as a condition for allowing preparations for the national convention to proceed without crisis.

At its last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in July, the party resolved to hold the convention to usher in a new national leadership. The decision was contained in an 11-point communiqué issued after the NEC meeting in Abuja.

According to the timetable released by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, on Monday, the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms will commence on September 3 and end on September 22. The deadline for the return of completed forms is September 26.

Screening of aspirants is scheduled for September 30, while the list of cleared aspirants will be published on October 3. Appeals on screening outcomes will be heard on October 6, and the final list of aspirants will be published on October 10.

The elective national convention will take place from November 15 to 16, with the handover to the new executive expected between December 1 and 8.

But speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, Wike declared that the party’s internal wrangling was “over for now” but insisted that the legitimacy of the Calabar congress, which re-elected Chief Dan Orbih as National Vice Chairman (South‑South), must be respected.

“Our South‑South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no two ways about it,” Wike said, warning that failure to abide by this could reignite the internal conflict, fuelling what he described as “another round of crisis”.

He criticised attempts to invalidate the congress results after a letter was reportedly sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suggesting the event had been postponed.

He emphasised that it was pointless to retroactively invalidate a congress already authorised by a court, warning that the party should not proceed with its national convention until the Calabar outcome is upheld.

“The crisis is over for now, because there are still some things remaining which I’ve told them they must do. One is our South‑South zonal congress, which must be upheld,” he insisted.

Amid continued speculation over his political future, Wike also dismissed rumours that he was planning to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite serving in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

“I will not leave this party, the PDP, which I have done everything for, for the buccaneers and vampires,” he declared.