The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has issued a stern warning to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other party members against taking actions that could undermine the party’s national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, 2025.
This warning was contained in a communiqué released at the conclusion of the Forum’s 7th meeting held in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Saturday, August 23, 2025. The governors reaffirmed their full support for the resolutions adopted at the 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in July 2025, particularly concerning preparations for the upcoming convention.
The Forum emphasized that party members must resist attempts to derail the convention, describing the PDP as a truly democratic institution and the only viable option capable of steering Nigeria back onto the track of good governance and sustainable development.
“The Forum reaffirms its full commitment to the resolutions of the 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 2025 regarding the November 15 National Convention. It urges members to resist all attempts to derail the convention by anti-party forces; but to see the PDP as the only democratic institution and viable alternative for restoring Nigeria along the path of good governance and national development,” the communiqué partly read.
The meeting, presided over by the Forum’s Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, addressed key issues including insecurity, the deterioration of democratic practices, and the preparations leading to the convention. The governors also voiced concern about the nation’s current state, attributing hardship and divisions to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Commending the persistence of PDP members despite orchestrated defections, the Forum stressed that such distractions could not weaken the party’s deep-rooted presence at the grassroots or erode the public’s longing for affordable living standards and relative peace enjoyed during PDP-led governments.
The governors vowed to remain focused on rescuing Nigeria, accusing the APC of adopting divisive leadership styles and policies that have worsened the plight of citizens.
Meanwhile, Wike, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, expressed his displeasure with the South-South Caretaker Committee recently set up by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC). He also opposed the decision to retain Ali Odefa as National Vice Chairman (South East).
The former Rivers State governor further warned that the PDP risked plunging into fresh turmoil if it refused to recognize the zonal congress that produced his ally, Dan Orbih, as National Vice Chairman, South-South.
He declared, “Well, it is over for now. A few things are remaining, and I have told them that they must do it. Our congress was held in Calabar, and there’s nothing anybody can tell us. If they want to have another round of crisis, so be it. In that congress, Chief Dan Orbih emerged as the National Vice Chairman. They never wanted the congress to be held, but congress was held.
“The so-called acting national chairman of the party wrote a letter to INEC after congress was held that the congress has been postponed. There is no two ways about it. The National Vice Chairman of PDP South-South is Chief Dan Orbih. If they don’t agree, that’s another round of crisis.”
Wike has also strongly rejected the zoning committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri. His political ties with former G5 ally, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, have weakened, as some PDP members continue to accuse him of engaging in anti-party activities due to his position in the APC-led federal cabinet — allegations he has consistently denied.
What you should know
The PDP Governors’ Forum is positioning itself as the guardian of party unity ahead of the November 15 convention in Ibadan, while accusing the APC of policies deepening Nigeria’s hardship.
Nyesom Wike, however, remains at the center of controversy over his rejection of key PDP committees and his insistence on Dan Orbih’s recognition as National Vice Chairman, South-South.
His actions, combined with allegations of anti-party activity, place him in a tense standoff with the party’s leadership at a critical moment.
