• The Peoples Democratic Party's leadership crisis escalates as Governor Seyi Makinde and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike exchange sharp remarks
• The Federal High Court nullifies PDP’s November convention which strengthens Wike-aligned caretaker committee
• However, the PDP staff pledge loyalty to Kabiru Turaki-led NWC and reject caretaker committee’s authority

The long-running battle for control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flared up again on Tuesday , February 3, after Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, exchanged sharp words over the party’s leadership crisis.

The two politicians, who worked closely during the 2023 elections, are now openly at odds.

Makinde, speaking at the inauguration of the PDP secretariat in Ibadan, accused unnamed figures within the party of attempting to undermine it and vowed that such efforts would not succeed.

Responding to concerns about the PDP’s stability, the governor said internal troublemakers had taken advantage of a leadership vacuum after the party lost power at the federal level in 2015. He claimed they had since been expelled and insisted the party was now on a path to renewal.

Makinde also admitted that he once aligned with Wike and his allies, but said he had since distanced himself.

“I was yoked with them toward 2023, but now I have repented,” he said, adding that he would resist any attempt to weaken the PDP for the benefit of rival parties.

He further expressed confidence in the judiciary to resolve the multiple court cases surrounding the party’s leadership and said justice would ultimately prevail.

The governor also explained that the newly inaugurated Oyo PDP secretariat was named after Omokunmi Mustapha, a former state chairman whom he credited with helping the party regain power in the state in 2019.

Wike camp fires back

On Monday, February 2, Wike had announced March 29 as the date for the PDP’s proposed national convention following a meeting of the Rahaman Mohammed–led caretaker committee. He also said he was closely watching developments in Oyo State, a remark widely believed to have triggered Makinde’s response.

After the governor’s comments, Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, replied in a strongly worded post on X, mocking Makinde’s remarks and questioning his political consistency.

Olayinka accused the governor of frequently switching political camps and acting primarily in his own interest. He also suggested that Makinde was uneasy about impending political developments.

Court ruling shifts momentum

Wike’s faction appeared to gain an advantage last Friday when the Federal High Court in Ibadan nullified the PDP’s November 16 national convention, which had produced the Kabiru Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed the expulsion of Wike, former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, and others.

The court declared all decisions taken at the convention invalid, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the Turaki-led NWC, and ruled that only a caretaker committee should manage the party pending a fresh convention.

Following the judgment, the Mohammed-led caretaker committee convened a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and fixed March 29 for a new national convention.

However, the Turaki faction announced that it had filed an appeal and was seeking a stay of execution.

Tensions over the ruling have led to clashes at the PDP national headquarters, prompting the police to seal the secretariat.

The caretaker committee also dissolved the North-West, South-West and Plateau State party structures, promising to appoint interim leadership teams in the affected zones.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the national convention would now be held on March 29 and 30, rather than March 28 and 29 as earlier announced.

He added that the timetable for ward, state and zonal congresses remained in force and that consultations were ongoing ahead of the appointment of a National Convention Planning Committee.

Chairman of the caretaker committee, Rahaman Mohammed, insisted the party was united under his leadership and pledged to organise what he described as an inclusive and transparent convention.

“There is no division in the PDP under my leadership,” he said, assuring members that the committee was acting in line with the party’s constitution and electoral laws.

PDP workers back Turaki faction

Meanwhile, a group of PDP staff members publicly aligned with the Turaki-led NWC, rejecting the caretaker committee’s authority.

In a statement signed by 76 employees, including Acting Director of Administration Gambo Isa Guade and Peoples Democratic Institute Director-General Dr Edward Ugbada, the workers argued that the Ibadan court had overstepped its bounds.

They reaffirmed loyalty to Turaki, saying his leadership emerged from a properly conducted national convention in November 2025 and should remain in place pending the outcome of appeals.

The staff also declared that they would not recognise any other leadership structure at the party’s secretariat, insisting that the Turaki-led NWC remained the legitimate authority within the PDP.