The Peoples Democratic Party’s decision to relocate its Elective National Convention to Ibadan, Oyo State, has exacerbated a growing feud between Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Seyi Makinde, insiders say. Announced at Thursday’s NEC meeting in Abuja, the convention move was framed as a zoning compromise but has underscored bitter fault lines within the party’s leadership .
Wike, whose bloc favours convening in Abuja to assert the Federal Capital Territory’s influence, reportedly accused Makinde of hijacking the process to bolster his own southern power base. Makinde’s camp insists that Ibadan honors the party’s unwritten agreement to rotate its convention among key regions, though Wike loyalists view the decision as a calculated slight .
The rift has spilled into public view, with aides to both leaders trading barbs over social media. Some Wike allies warn that acquiescing to Makinde’s demand sets a dangerous precedent, while Makinde’s supporters argue that resistance by Wike’s camp risks fracturing the PDP beyond repair before the 2027 elections .
Analysts note that the convention’s venue symbolizes more than logistics: it reflects competing visions for the PDP’s future direction. Wike seeks to leverage federal influence and control over party machinery, whereas Makinde champions grassroots mobilization in the South-West. The clash is likely to shape delegate selection rules, leadership contests, and coalition-building efforts .
With tensions at a boil, senior PDP figures are reportedly mediating behind the scenes to broker a face-saving compromise—potentially a hybrid Abuja–Ibadan arrangement or a concurrent virtual convention platform. How effectively the party resolves this intra-party showdown will signal its capacity to present a united front against the ruling APC in 2027.
