Wike Leads High-Level Meeting to Rejuvenate PDP Amid Internal Turmoil

In a renewed bid to reposition Nigeria's principal opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike convened a high-level, private meeting on Monday evening with significant party leaders in Abuja, branded as “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP.” 

This strategic assembly unified a mix of PDP heavyweights, including three prominent members of the influential G5 Governors: former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

While attendance from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde another G5 member was not confirmed at the time of reporting, the meeting included PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda, and both current and former legislators, along with senior party officials nationwide.

During his address, Wike delivered a sharp yet contemplative critique of the PDP's internal flaws, arguing that the controversial position taken by the G5 Governors during the 2023 general elections played a crucial role in maintaining national stability.

“Currently, this country is stable due to the actions of the G5 Governors. You may support us or dislike us, but the reality is that without the decisions we made, Nigeria could have faced a crisis,” Wike remarked, referring to the group’s dissent against the party's presidential ticket, which they condemned as a violation of the PDP’s zoning principles.

Wike stressed that the meeting aimed beyond media spectacle, comprising serious grassroots-driven party loyalists focused on rejuvenating the PDP. “We must not allow greed and ego to ruin our party,” he cautioned.

He also criticized the leadership for ignoring constitutional protocols, highlighting systemic impunity within the party. By citing examples like Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas and Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi, Wike questioned how individuals could retain party roles while actively running for office without formally resigning.

Wike's statements were widely understood as a criticism of the party's internal chaos, especially amidst rising tensions around key appointments and urgent calls for reconciliation.

In a fervent response, former Governor Samuel Ortom defended Wike’s essential role in preserving the PDP.

“The one who finances the piper controls the tune,” Ortom insisted, challenging adversaries to identify anyone who has invested more in the PDP than Wike.

He further praised President Bola Tinubu's choice to appoint Wike as FCT Minister, calling it a sensible move to prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.

“For whatever reasons, the PDP has committed numerous errors, and we find ourselves in this situation today,” Ortom acknowledged, urging for sincere self-reflection and structural reforms.

As of the time of reporting, the meeting continued behind closed doors, with high expectations for a formal communiqué detailing the group’s decisions.

Sources indicate that discussions could lead to a framework for reconciliation, revitalization of zonal structures, and perhaps the establishment of a strategic opposition coalition within the PDP.

Political analysts view this meeting, engaging estranged yet influential party figures, as a potentially pivotal moment for the PDP's future. Whether it will signify a true turning point or fall into yet another episode of the party's persistent internal conflicts remains uncertain.