A recent gathering of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, convened by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has ignited fierce debate within Nigeria’s political circles. Held on 9 June in Abuja, the meeting was billed as an effort to foster unity and reposition the PDP. However, critics argue it was a calculated move by Wike to tighten his grip on the party, raising concerns about a potential fracture ahead of the PDP’s next national convention.
The meeting, attended by prominent figures including three former G5 Governors—Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and Okezie Ikpeazu—alongside former PDP National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda, was presented as a step towards reconciliation. Yet, its lack of authorisation from the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and absence from official party channels has fuelled suspicions of ulterior motives.
Political analysts suggest the gathering was less about healing divisions and more about consolidating a parallel power structure loyal to Wike. Insiders claim the minister pushed for “internal cohesion” and “party strength” during the meeting, a stance that appears at odds with his recent public statements. Just days prior, Wike asserted his political weight in a media interview, declaring, “I am not a liability. I am an asset… Whether you want to die, you don’t want to die, I am an asset.” Commenting on the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, he added, “It’s not water that is flowing here, it’s blood.” These remarks, far from conciliatory, were interpreted as a message to both President Bola Tinubu, affirming his relevance, and to the PDP, staking his claim as an indispensable force.
The Abuja meeting appears to be a piece of a larger strategy. Wike is reportedly rallying allies—former governors, party executives, and sympathetic legislators—to form a faction capable of shaping, or even dominating, the PDP’s next national convention. His aim, observers argue, is not reconciliation but control. By creating a loyal bloc and casting doubt on the party’s current trajectory, Wike is positioning himself to either influence the convention or, if sidelined, orchestrate a parallel gathering that could deepen the PDP’s divisions.
The PDP has already selected Kano as the venue for its next convention, a departure from the 2018 Port Harcourt and 2022 Abuja conventions, both heavily influenced by Wike. Should he oppose this choice, it could pave the way for a counter-convention, formalising the split many fear he is engineering. “Wike’s calls for peace are tactical, not genuine,” said a senior PDP official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “His loyalty is to his own ambitions, not the party.”
Wike’s manoeuvres have placed the PDP leadership in a precarious position. His reference to “blood” in Rivers State was not merely rhetorical flourish but a stark warning to both the party and the presidency that he is prepared to operate outside formal structures if his influence is challenged. As the PDP edges closer to its convention, it faces a critical test: confront Wike’s power play or risk seeing the party not just fractured, but overtaken.
The communique from the 9 June meeting has yet to be released, leaving many questions unanswered. What is clear, however, is that Wike’s actions signal a battle for the PDP’s soul. If the party’s leadership underestimates the stakes, it may find itself outmanoeuvred by a man who thrives on defiance.
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