The internal crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has turned from bad to worse as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared his withdrawal from all reconciliation agreements earlier reached by top party leaders, citing serial betrayals and lack of fidelity to mutual understandings.
Wike, in a statement released on Sunday, laid bare the undercurrents of dishonesty, mistrust, and political manipulation that have plagued the party since the conclusion of the 2023 general elections.
“The PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders,” Wike wrote.
He accused some party leaders, particularly Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, of repeatedly reneging on agreements reached during several high-level meetings aimed at stabilizing the party.
According to Wike, the crisis escalated following a meeting of the G5 governors in Lagos where he confronted Governor Makinde, describing him as “the architect of our problems.” Though a temporary truce was achieved, Wike revealed that further efforts, including an expanded meeting at the residence of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, failed to yield any sustainable resolution due to continued breaches of agreements.
He noted that critical resolutions were reached in that Abuja meeting, including reaffirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the party, and the withdrawal of legal suits concerning Rivers State. However, Wike expressed shock that these agreements were flagrantly violated even before the Saraki-led Reconciliation Committee could commence its work.
He alleged that Governor Makinde, in collusion with Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State, spearheaded moves to install Ude Okoye as Secretary through a “so-called” South-East leaders’ meeting, threatening to pull out of the party if their demand was not met.
In another violation, Wike said Makinde orchestrated a campaign within the PDP national secretariat to recognize the Deputy National Secretary as acting National Secretary, which led to the controversial cancellation of a zonal congress in Jos after INEC refused to attend due to the improper signatory on the invitation.
“I have painstakingly put out all these facts so that PDP members and the general public would know the truth,” Wike declared, lamenting that despite his long-standing loyalty and contribution to the party since 1998, he has been met with “dishonesty and treachery” from those he helped into political office.
The FCT Minister concluded by announcing his withdrawal from all previous agreements, vowing to continue the fight for justice within the party.
“I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” he declared.
Wike’s latest declaration is expected to stir fresh waves of tension within the PDP, which has struggled to maintain internal cohesion since its defeat in the 2023 presidential elections. Party leaders are yet to officially respond to Wike’s statement.
