Political Tension Escalates: Wike Bloc Walks Away From Makinde PDP Meeting

The decision was taken during the group’s 103rd NEC meeting held in Abuja. The motion for the committee’s creation was moved by Edo State PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi and seconded by Clement Fagboyede.

The newly constituted interim National Working Committee also includes several other party figures such as Alhaji Hamza Akuyam Koshe, Dr Daniel Woyenikuro, Richard Ihediwa, Isa Abubakar, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Theophilus Dakas Shan, Ini Ememobong, Aribisala Adewale Idowu, Bara’u Shafi, Anthonia Chinenyenwa, and Umar Dan Aji. Former Oyo Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja was named Secretary.

Speaking after the meeting, Makinde said his group remained committed despite internal tensions, describing the situation as a struggle to preserve democratic plurality in Nigeria. He insisted that the meeting and decisions taken were valid, claiming that the required quorum was met in line with the PDP constitution.

He added that the faction would formally communicate its decisions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and expressed hope that the electoral body would uphold democratic principles and accommodate opposition voices.

However, the rival PDP faction associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected the meeting entirely, describing it as illegitimate and unauthorized.

The group argued that no properly convened NEC meeting took place under the party’s recognised leadership and dismissed all resolutions, including the caretaker committee appointments, as invalid and without legal effect.

It further accused the Makinde-led group of inconsistency, insisting that its actions contradicted earlier positions on the legality of caretaker structures within the party.