By
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a sharp turn for the worse following the withdrawal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from a peace accord brokered to unify key stakeholders. The development, coupled with the postponement of a crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has plunged the party further into uncertainty.
Wike, in a strongly worded statement titled “PDP Crisis: My Position,” announced his decision to pull out of the ongoing reconciliation process. He accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of breaching agreements reached during recent meetings involving party leaders. According to Wike, Makinde reneged on a deal to maintain Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary in accordance with a Supreme Court judgment.
The former Rivers State governor said Makinde, alongside Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, orchestrated moves to sideline Anyanwu, including promoting the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, to act in his place and calling an NEC meeting without due process. He labeled such actions as “treacherous” and “provocative,” vowing to continue his struggle for justice within the PDP.
In his statement, Wike detailed the timeline of reconciliation efforts, including meetings in Lagos and Abuja involving governors such as Bala Mohammed, Umaru Fintiri, and Bukola Saraki.
He alleged that despite commitments made in these meetings including retaining Anyanwu and withdrawing legal actions in Rivers State the agreements were immediately violated.
“To my chagrin, Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mba of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called Southeast leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as Secretary, they would pull out of the PDP,” Wike stated.
The crisis took another twist as Anyanwu postponed the NEC meeting originally scheduled for May 27, citing the need to allow the Saraki-led reconciliation committee to finish its work. He dismissed the meeting notice issued by Koshoedo as illegal and not in line with the PDP constitution or the 2022 Electoral Act.
Anyanwu’s authority was further reinforced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which refused to monitor the party’s Northcentral zonal congress because the invitation was not signed by him. This action has reportedly emboldened Anyanwu and his supporters.
Meanwhile, tension is mounting ahead of today’s expected emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT). The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, insisted that the NEC meeting would proceed as scheduled, urging members to disregard Anyanwu’s postponement directive.
Insiders say there are fears that the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza may be sealed by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) due to over ten years of unpaid ground rent. There is also growing concern that pro-Anyanwu youths could storm the venue of the NEC meeting to protest alleged marginalization.
A letter from party chieftain Odih Rowland to Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum warned of possible occupation of the secretariat if Anyanwu is sidelined. “If Senator Anyanwu does not participate in or sign for the NEC meeting scheduled for May 27th, we will mobilise our members to occupy the party secretariat,” the letter read.
Wike, expressing disappointment in the party’s trajectory, emphasized his long-standing commitment to the PDP and pledged to continue his fight to restore integrity and justice within its ranks. “Since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party… I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached,” he declared.
As the PDP braces for another critical week, the unity and future of Nigeria’s main opposition party hang in the balance, with its internal wrangling threatening to undermine preparations for the August convention and the 2025 electoral cycle.
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