By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatening to undo reconciliation efforts as a powerful bloc loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, rejected a rival faction’s plan to hold a national convention. The move has intensified the leadership tussle between Governor Makinde’s camp and supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The conflict came to a head on Saturday during the party’s 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where the Makinde-aligned group dismissed the convention scheduled for March 28–29, 2026, by the Wike-backed faction. The Wike camp, however, insists the convention will proceed as planned, arguing that the current National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, lacks legitimacy.

The faction loyal to the FCT Minister has already conducted ward, local government, and state congresses, positioning its upcoming Abuja convention as a move to install a new NWC. Party insiders say the group has intensified mobilisation across several states, engaging delegates and stakeholders to secure support for the exercise.

Proponents of the convention describe it as a “reset” aimed at producing a more assertive and electorally competitive leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the convention dispute, the crisis reflects a fundamental struggle over who holds legitimate authority within the opposition party. The two camps remain deeply divided over reconciliation efforts and the strategic direction of the PDP, raising concerns about the party’s ability to present a united front in time for the next election cycle.

Tensions were laid bare during the NEC meeting, which had been delayed for weeks to allow for broader consultations. In attendance were key party leaders, including National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN; Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; House of Representatives caucus leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi; Chairman of PDP State Chairmen, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi; and National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.

Opposition to the planned convention was swift and unequivocal, particularly from state party leaders who accused the Wike-aligned camp of sidelining broader party structures.

“You must have consultation. You must bring more people to the table when you are sharing those positions,” Aziegbemi said. “Here we are, with just one person, or at most two people, presenting us with a list of members of the National Working Committee of our great party. Will you allow that to happen?”

He added: “Which convention? Where did we decide that we are going for a convention? Who agreed to go to that convention? For us at the level of state chairmen, we want to assure you that we will go nowhere, that we will stand with you, no matter what happens.”

Addressing reporters after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong denied knowledge of any impending convention, while cautioning against public commentary that could further fracture the party.

“Talking about the convention, there’s no convention coming up to our knowledge,” Ememobong said. “But we will not begin to deconstruct that because that would be an inconvenient truth, and we cannot be saying those inconvenient truths at this point in public.”

On reconciliation, Ememobong acknowledged progress while noting the journey is far from over. “Reconciliation is a journey towards a destination, and so you measure it by movement. Movement is being made along that line. The destination will be met. We have a situation of negative peace at the moment—at least a cessation of hostilities.”

National Chairman Turaki underscored the party’s commitment to due process, explaining the NEC meeting was intended to assess developments carefully before taking decisive action.

“We felt it was important to examine these developments microscopically so that we can take informed decisions, not only to save and strengthen our party, but to ensure that multi-party democracy survives,” Turaki said. “All hope is not lost. Indeed, no hope is lost.”