The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a firm stand against former governors Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Ayo Fayose, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, collectively known as the G5, following their six-point ultimatum to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). In a Tuesday meeting held in Abuja to inaugurate the 2025 National Convention Organising Committee, top PDP leaders, including National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, openly rebuffed the threats, asserting that the party would not be blackmailed or hijacked by any individual or group.
The G5, led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, had demanded fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, the immediate conduct of Ekiti LGA congresses, and a new South East Zonal Congress, among other conditions. They warned that failure to comply would render the upcoming convention invalid. However, Governor Bala Mohammed delivered a blunt response on behalf of the governors, declaring that they were “not cowards” and would not allow anyone to drag the party into self-destruction. He warned that “accommodation does not mean stupidity,” and that anyone wanting to form “a faction of fools” was free to do so.
Mohammed emphasized that the governors were working with the NWC to ensure discipline, highlighting the PDP’s long-standing consistency since 1999. He added that the party would not be taken for granted and that “enough is enough,” sending a direct message to Wike’s camp. His sentiments were echoed by National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, who declared with conviction that the PDP was neither broken nor defeated. Damagum stated that the party was “marching forward; stronger, more determined, and better prepared to reclaim the presidency” from the current ruling party.
The defiant stance from the PDP leadership signals a deepening rift within the party ahead of its national convention. While Wike and his allies continue to challenge the party’s direction, the current leadership appears resolute in moving forward with its plans. The public confrontation highlights a significant power struggle and underscores the party’s determination to resist any pressure to cede control or compromise its internal processes.
