Political Tension: Wike’s Camp Sets Tough Conditions For Reconciliation”

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with Nyesom Wike has maintained that the party’s national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 will go ahead as planned, despite ongoing reconciliation efforts involving the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.

Speaking in an interview with Punch Newspapers, the National Secretary of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, Samuel Anyanwu, stated that the party was already moving beyond its internal disagreements and that the Turaki group could no longer be regarded as a separate faction.

Anyanwu revealed that Seyi Makinde had initiated efforts to reconcile the different camps within the party. However, he said Wike had emphasized that any reconciliation must be genuine and demonstrate a real commitment to resolving the crisis.

According to him, the party now considers itself unified under the leadership of the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, adding that preparations for the national convention are already underway.

He said the convention would lead to the emergence of a new National Working Committee that will take over the affairs of the party and move it forward.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, also stated that the Wike-aligned camp remains open to reconciliation but insisted that the convention date would not be altered.

Bisi explained that Wike had made it clear that any reconciliation process should not interfere with the scheduled convention or the current caretaker leadership of the party.

He added that preparatory activities for the convention are already ongoing across several states in the country.

According to him, party congresses are currently taking place in nearly 15 states, including Oyo State, making it impractical to suspend the ongoing processes.

Bisi further stated that the camp remains willing to engage in dialogue with the opposing group if they genuinely seek reconciliation, noting that discussions could still be held regarding positions within the National Working Committee.

He concluded by saying the Wike camp believes it is negotiating from a position of strength but remains open to discussions aimed at resolving the party’s internal crisis.