Wike, Makinde Camps Set For Showdown As PDP Peace Talks Loom

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, expressed openness to dialogue in separate interviews.

Their responses came after the Court of Appeal Nigeria sitting in Ibadan advised both sides to resolve their dispute amicably. The panel, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, gave the recommendation while hearing an appeal filed by one of the factions and subsequently adjourned the case until March 11.

The court is expected to consider appeals seeking to overturn conflicting judgments earlier issued by the Federal High Court Nigeria in Ibadan and the Oyo State High Court concerning the legality of the party’s convention held in Ibadan.

The crisis began after rival claims to party leadership emerged following the PDP convention held on November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan. The convention produced Tanimu Turaki as the party’s National Chairman.

However, a faction supported by Wike obtained a Federal High Court ruling on November 25, 2025, nullifying the convention. That faction is led by Mohammed Abdulrahman, who currently heads the party’s caretaker committee.

In contrast, on February 25, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court ruled that the convention complied with both the PDP constitution and the Electoral Act, affirming Turaki as the legitimate national chairman.

Commenting on possible reconciliation, the acting National Secretary of the caretaker committee, Samuel Anyanwu, said his faction remains open to dialogue. He noted that while both sides have not met directly, some stakeholders are already working behind the scenes to mediate.

“For the benefit of doubt, nobody is against reconciliation. We are the ones who have been asking these people to come back so that we can rebuild our party,” he said.

However, Anyanwu blamed Makinde for the crisis, accusing the governor of attempting to dominate the party’s structure.

“Governor Makinde is the major cause of the crisis in the party because he wants to make sure that he is the only governor remaining in the party,” he alleged.

He also rejected suggestions that Wike was responsible for the internal divisions within the PDP.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led faction, Ini Ememobong, said his group was equally open to reconciliation.

Ememobong clarified that the Court of Appeal did not issue a final ruling but only advised both factions to settle their dispute internally.

“It is not a ruling; it is an advisory. The judge simply said he had reviewed the files and that the issue is largely an internal party matter, giving us the chance to resolve it ourselves,” he said.

He explained that the court adjourned the case to allow the factions time to explore reconciliation efforts.

According to him, the Turaki faction supports any peace process that would strengthen the party ahead of future elections.

“We are not opposed to reconciliation, but it must be based on principle. We want a process that will rebuild the party, guarantee its survival, and position it to win future elections,” he added.