Read here: Wike Warns PDP: Address Internal Crisis Before November Convention. Read more: Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against going ahead with its planned national convention in November without first resolving internal party disputes, particularly in the South-South zone.


Wike’s warning comes in the wake of growing tensions within the party over the outcome of the South-South zonal congress held in Calabar, where Dan Orbih was re-elected as the PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-South).


Despite a court affirmation of the congress results, sections of the party’s national leadership have reportedly refused to acknowledge Orbih’s re-election — a move Wike considers unjust and a threat to party cohesion. He stressed that proceeding with the convention while ignoring legitimate internal processes would not only undermine the party’s unity but could also rekindle long-standing divisions, especially in the southern regions of the country.


According to Wike, respecting court-backed decisions and allowing due process to prevail is the only way to ensure peace and avoid a deeper crisis within the party.


In contrast, the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has confirmed that the national convention will go on as scheduled, from November 15 to 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The NEC insists that all necessary procedures were followed in arriving at the decision, including the notification of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant stakeholders.


Wike, party leaders claim, was duly invited to the NEC meeting where the timetable was approved.


Party sources have also hinted that the leadership may invoke disciplinary measures against individuals perceived to be undermining the NEC’s decisions or engaging in actions deemed anti-party. Further solidifying the party’s position, the PDP Governors’ Forum met on August 23 in Gusau, Zamfara State, and collectively endorsed the scheduled convention.


The governors called on all members to rally behind the party’s leadership and condemned what they described as internal sabotage orchestrated by vested interests. The power struggle between the national leadership and prominent figures like Wike reflects deeper ideological and structural tensions within the PDP, which continues to grapple with challenges to internal democracy and party discipline ahead of the 2027 general elections.


As the party moves closer to its convention date, the road ahead remains uncertain.


Whether the leadership can bridge its internal divides or risks further fragmentation will likely determine the PDP’s viability as a unified opposition force in the years to come. Follow estherokeketv on Facebook. Visit our blog @www.estherokeketv.


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