The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing renewed internal tensions as Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the party’s Board of Trustees endorse a reconciliation accord with the camp of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, upheld by the Court of Appeal.
The initiative, aimed at healing divisions within the party, has reportedly been rejected by key governors. The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Abdulkadir of Bauchi State, is said to have dismissed the reconciliation, stating, “I cannot work with the Wike camp. The issues are too deep to be resolved by a mere agreement.”
A senior PDP source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Governor Makinde and the Board of Trustees believe this is the best way to bring unity ahead of the 2027 elections. But the resistance from some governors shows how fragile internal consensus still is.”
The tensions follow the PDP governors’ earlier endorsement of the Ibadan convention held on November 15, 2025, which elected Tanimu Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for a four-year term. According to the source, “The convention was meant to reinforce structured leadership and demonstrate commitment to internal democracy, but the differences among governors highlight ongoing factional rivalries.”
The governors also oversaw the formal handover of leadership from former Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9, 2025.
Political analysts say the split could affect the PDP’s electoral prospects. “While the reconciliation effort could unify the party, continued opposition from influential governors risks deepening factionalism,” said one analyst.
Another observer added, “The Makinde-Wike accord sends a message of compromise, but whether it will hold depends on the willingness of all stakeholders to set aside personal ambitions for the party’s sake.”