Samuel Omang
In an uncompromising declaration, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has laid down what he described as the final condition for reconciliation within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): the party must recognise and uphold the outcome of the South-South Zonal Congress held in Calabar. Speaking during his monthly media parley in Abuja, Wike made it clear that any talk of peace that does not begin with respecting the congress’s results is, in his words, “a waste of time.”
This marks a significant moment in the ongoing internal crisis facing the PDP, especially as the party prepares for the crucial 2027 general elections. Wike’s position not only asserts the autonomy of the South-South zone but also challenges the perceived imposition of party leadership from the centre, particularly from the National Working Committee (NWC).
“There’s no doubt, no two words about it,” Wike said firmly. “Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. When we were doing our South-South congress, the Acting National Chairman claimed that PDP governors were not in support of the National Congress. Where are those PDP governors now?” Wike was referring to resistance by certain party officials who opposed the congress allegedly because it did not have widespread support from PDP governors across the country.
But Wike dismissed such arguments, affirming that the congress went ahead legally and without any breach. “Our congress was held in Calabar and there’s nothing anybody can tell us. Chief Daniel Orbi emerged as the National Vice Chairman of the South-South, and that result must be respected,” he insisted.
Wike noted that the courts had already ruled in favour of allowing the congress to proceed. This legal validation, he argued, nullifies any objections raised by the party’s leadership. “The Court allowed for the congress to hold,” he said. “So if anyone wants another round of passes, so be it, but as far as the law is concerned, that congress is valid.” His repeated emphasis on the judiciary’s role signals his intent to leverage legal precedent and institutional authority in his ongoing battle for recognition and influence within the PDP.
This is not the first time Wike has openly criticised the PDP leadership. Since losing the party’s presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar in 2022, the former Rivers State governor has been a vocal and at times defiant figure, constantly demanding internal reforms, regional autonomy, and equity within the party structure. His appointment as Minister of the FCT under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government raised further questions about his loyalty to the PDP, but Wike has maintained that he remains a PDP member working in a national interest capacity.
Observers say Wike’s latest declaration is both a political test and a challenge to the party’s leadership. “He is essentially saying: recognize our structure or risk continued division,” noted political analyst Dr. Sani A. Musa. “And this is a very strategic time for the PDP as it attempts to rebuild credibility.” Although key figures within the PDP have yet to formally respond to Wike’s latest remarks, sources within the party indicate rising tension. Some party officials are reportedly wary of giving Wike’s faction too much power, fearing it could embolden other zones to demand similar autonomy or resist national directives. Yet others agree with Wike that the party must devolve more authority to the grassroots to remain relevant.
An anonymous PDP official told Daily Post, “The truth is, Wike speaks what many leaders in the South-South and even Southeast are thinking — that Abuja cannot always dictate to the zones. But there is also concern that his tone is too confrontational.” The PDP is currently undergoing a quiet but complex process of internal restructuring ahead of the 2027 elections. With the APC firmly in control of the federal government and many states, the PDP is under pressure to present a united front. But divisions like the one Wike has spotlighted threaten to weaken the opposition party’s chances unless resolved swiftly and fairly.
Political observers believe Wike’s influence, especially in the South-South, cannot be ignored. “If the PDP wants to win votes in that region, they must come to terms with the reality that Wike remains a political heavyweight,” said Ms. Ruth Bassey, a Port Harcourt-based political columnist. While Wike’s comments may be interpreted by some as a plea for fairness, others view them as a warning — a line in the sand. His insistence that there are “no two words about it” suggests a hardened stance that could either force meaningful negotiation or escalate the crisis.
Some civil society voices are urging restraint and compromise. Speaking to Arise TV, Mr. Oladimeji Onifade of the Centre for Democratic Reforms said, “The PDP must act quickly. Wike is not a man who backs down easily, and they need to find a way to de-escalate this before it becomes a factional war.”
Nyesom Wike has once again stirred the waters within the PDP, placing the outcome of the South-South congress at the centre of any potential peace deal. Whether his position will draw the party together or further expose its fractures remains to be seen. But what is certain is that Wike’s voice remains one the PDP cannot afford to ignore. As the countdown to 2027 begins in earnest, the opposition’s ability to resolve internal disputes may very well determine the future of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.