Crisis Deepens In PDP As Wike Blames Makinde, Mba For Breach Of Agreements

The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension, with former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, publicly accusing key party figures—Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State—of orchestrating actions that violate previously agreed-upon resolutions aimed at restoring unity within the party.

Wike, a prominent member of the party’s G5 group, revealed that since the 2023 General Election, the PDP has struggled with internal instability due to what he described as “dishonesty and lack of trust” among major stakeholders. Efforts to restore order, he said, have been undermined by repeated breaches of trust and disregard for collective decisions.

He cited a recent meeting of the G5 in Lagos where he directly blamed Governor Makinde for the party’s persistent problems, accusing him of failing to honour agreements. According to Wike, despite these tensions, the group resolved to move forward and work toward unity.

Following the Lagos meeting, an expanded gathering was held in Abuja at the residence of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Present at that meeting were Governors Makinde, Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Saraki himself. Wike reiterated his concern that Bala Mohammed, as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, had repeatedly reneged on decisions reached by party leaders.

The Abuja meeting reportedly resulted in several resolutions, including:

• Affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the PDP, in line with a Supreme Court ruling.
• Directing the party’s National Legal Adviser to withdraw all court cases involving Rivers State.
• Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the suit seeking a declaration of a state of emergency.
• Mandating full adherence to the resolutions by all parties involved.

A reconciliation committee chaired by Saraki was subsequently formed to address lingering disputes.

However, Wike expressed disappointment that the agreements reached were violated even before the reconciliation committee could begin its work. He accused Governor Makinde and Governor Mba of unilaterally convening a meeting of South-East PDP leaders, where a threat was issued to exit the party unless Ude Okoye was installed as National Secretary—an action Wike dismissed as invalid.

Wike further claimed that Makinde had instigated efforts within the PDP National Secretariat to install the Deputy National Secretary as acting National Secretary, in contravention of party agreements. He also cited the unauthorized issuance of a letter convening a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the rejection of a valid letter confirming the party’s Anambra governorship candidate. This, he alleged, was orchestrated by the party’s National Publicity Secretary under the influence of Makinde and Mba.

In a recent incident that underscored the party’s growing disarray, Wike said the PDP’s zonal elective congress in Jos, scheduled for May 24, was abruptly aborted. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly refused to attend because the invitation was signed by the Deputy National Secretary rather than the legally recognized National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu.

Describing the ongoing situation as “provocative, distasteful, and unacceptable,” Wike warned that the party’s continued disregard for internal agreements could spell deeper trouble for its future.

As of press time, Governors Makinde and Mba had not issued official responses to the allegations