PDP Governors Head to Zamfara to Break Convention Deadlock Amid Wike Camp Opposition

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its National Elective Convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, tensions within the party have intensified. A faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative Meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday, deepening internal divisions.

In response to the growing discord, members of the PDP Governors’ Forum are set to converge in Zamfara State this Saturday in a strategic move to address pressing issues threatening the convention. Sources within the PDP National Working Committee confirmed that governors are expected to arrive in Gusau, the state capital, on Friday to deliberate on how to ensure a successful and unified convention.

Wike’s faction is reportedly working to disrupt the planned convention, citing unresolved disputes over zonal leadership allocations in the South-South and South-East. Conversely, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his allies remain committed to moving forward in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Meanwhile, the zoning committee led by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has continued its consultations across regions. The committee, comprising 44 members, recently met Southern stakeholders in Lagos as part of efforts to draft a zoning formula for the 19 National Working Committee (NWC) positions, ahead of the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for next Monday.

However, Wike’s camp distanced itself from the Lagos meeting, denouncing it as unrepresentative and exclusionary. In a joint statement, PDP state chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, along with National Assembly members and party leaders, declared that the outcomes of the Lagos parley were neither binding nor reflective of the collective Southern PDP stance.

They criticized the meeting as being convened in secrecy and without input from several key figures, including state party chairmen, national officers, and prominent lawmakers. Describing it as divisive and unauthorized, they warned that any consideration of its resolutions by the NWC or NEC would be met with resistance.

Governor Makinde responded, insisting the Lagos meeting aimed to strengthen the PDP and prepare it for the future. He emphasized the importance of unity and democratic engagement, stating, “We may disagree, but it shouldn’t be personal. Nigerians are watching.”

Makinde added that the PDP’s recent electoral performances show the party remains a strong political force, and stressed that rebuilding party structures must precede discussions about the 2027 presidential ticket.

The Lagos meeting saw attendance from prominent PDP figures including the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara; Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa; Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke; and Enugu State Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, among others. Twelve out of seventeen PDP National Assembly members from the South also participated.

In Zamfara, the PDP Governors’ Forum will deliberate on strategies to ensure the Ibadan convention proceeds smoothly. According to a source, most governors are pushing for political solutions to outstanding issues but are also prepared to enforce decisions if needed.

“The convention is critical to the PDP’s future,” the source said. “Our leaders are united in ensuring it holds as planned and are ready to apply pressure through legitimate party structures if necessary.”

Efforts to get a comment from PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful.

In a separate development, FCT Minister Wike reiterated his support for politicians aligned with President Bola Tinubu, urging Abuja residents to back leaders who can influence federal policies and bring development. During the flag-off of a water project in Karu, Wike praised former Senator Philip Aduda and AMAC Chairman Christopher Maikalangu for their roles in local development and pledged continued support for pro-Tinubu figures, regardless of party affiliation.

He criticized previous administrations for neglecting basic needs like water supply and praised President Tinubu’s government for delivering on its promises to satellite towns.