Wike: PDP Leaders Must Engage Stakeholders Before National Convention Can Hold

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must engage concerned stakeholders if the party intends to proceed with its planned National Convention.

Wike made this statement on Friday while hosting a meeting of Concerned PDP Stakeholders at his Life Camp residence in Abuja, amid growing internal disputes threatening the unity and survival of the opposition party.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said the group was proud to have “stood against impunity” and defended internal democracy within the PDP. His comments came shortly after a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja halted the party’s planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, citing non-compliance with statutory party requirements, the PDP constitution, and provisions of the Electoral Act.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any outcome from the proposed convention, effectively freezing the party’s plans until the issues are resolved.

Describing the ruling as “unfortunate but avoidable,” Wike accused the PDP leadership of disregarding internal consultation and marginalising key figures whose efforts had kept the party afloat since its loss of power in 2015.

“The current leadership has violated the core values of our great party,” Wike declared. “The arrogance, impunity, and disregard for due process have brought the PDP to this sorry state. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well while the party is collapsing from within.”

The former Rivers State Governor, who played a key role in the PDP’s electoral and structural development over the years, emphasised that the Concerned Stakeholders group was not working against the party but rather trying to save it from total disintegration.

“We are open to dialogue. We are not fighting the PDP; we are fighting for the PDP,” he said. “If they want the national convention to hold, they must talk to us. Consensus and respect for due process are the only ways forward.”

The meeting was attended by prominent figures including PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, several serving and former lawmakers, and various state-level party executives. After the opening remarks, the stakeholders went into a closed-door session, reportedly to deliberate on strategies for restoring unity and legitimacy to the party’s leadership process.

Observers believe the crisis stems from long-standing divisions between pro-reform members of the PDP and the current National Working Committee (NWC), which has been accused of concentrating power and excluding dissenting voices.

Political analysts suggest that Wike’s increasing assertiveness, combined with his influence among several PDP governors and lawmakers, makes him a decisive figure in determining the party’s future direction. His insistence on inclusion and respect for internal rules has also sparked debate about his continued role in PDP politics while serving under the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

Public reactions have been mixed. Supporters hail Wike as a fearless defender of party democracy, while critics accuse him of overreaching and destabilising the PDP from within. Social media discussions following the meeting reflected this divide, with some users describing him as “the man holding PDP by the throat,” and others urging the party to “show him the exit door.”

Despite the tensions, Wike maintained that reconciliation remains possible if the PDP leadership recognises the importance of collective decision-making.

“We built this party together. Nobody is bigger than the PDP. But the same way we built it together, we can also watch it fall apart if those in charge continue to act with impunity,” he warned.

The ongoing dispute underscores the deepening crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party ahead of critical political realignments expected in the coming months.

As one insider put it after the meeting, “The PDP has reached a crossroads — either it reforms internally or risks political irrelevance.”