In a bold move that has reignited debate within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday defied mounting pressure and public criticism to attend a high-stakes PDP meeting in Abuja.
Wike’s appearance at the meeting, held at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge and hosted by Governor Bala Mohammed, one of his most vocal critics within the party, comes amid an escalating rift that many say threatens the already fragile cohesion of the opposition party.
Despite open calls for his expulsion over his perceived role in fueling the PDP’s internal crisis, Wike arrived shortly after key stakeholders had taken their seats.
Those in attendance included PDP Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, as well as Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
Also present were prominent ex-governors: Senator Seriake Dickson, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Liyel Imoke, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Achike Udenwa.
The gathering, seen as a make-or-break moment for Nigeria’s main opposition party, aims to address internal divisions that have led to a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising fears about the PDP’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
Sources close to the meeting say the agenda includes:
Resolving factional disputes within the National Working Committee (NWC),
Debating whether to confirm Ambassador Damagum as substantive National Chairman,
Crafting a new strategy for rebuilding public trust,
Exploring the possibility of opposition alliances, and
Preparing for the upcoming Anambra off-cycle governorship election.
Of particular interest is the widening schism between Wike and Bala Mohammed, whose sharp exchanges have spilled into the public domain.
Wike’s decision to walk into the meeting despite these tensions is seen by some as either an act of political audacity or a calculated power play.
Critics argue that Wike’s continued influence undermines party discipline, while his supporters frame him as a necessary “disruptor” capable of galvanising reform within the PDP’s ranks.
As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still in progress, with expectations high that concrete decisions may emerge to either unite or further fracture the PDP ahead of a critical political season.
