- Wike rejects PDP’s Ibadan convention, cites unresolved party disputes.
- PDP insists convention will hold November 15–16 despite objections.
- Party warns against disloyalty, vows to follow constitutional process.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, is facing uncertainty following opposition from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
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Reports indicate that Wike’s resistance is linked to his fallout with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other unresolved disputes within the party. The PDP, which recently emerged from months of internal crisis and high-profile defections, has warned the minister against actions that could undermine preparations.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that at its 101st NEC meeting in July, the party fixed Ibadan as the convention venue where 19 new members are expected to be elected into the National Working Committee. However, Wike has rejected the arrangement, faulting the party’s handling of its South-South and South-East leadership structure.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike insisted that the congress held in Calabar, which produced Dan Orbih as PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), remained valid. He warned that any attempt to disregard the outcome could trigger another crisis. He also questioned the legitimacy of Ali Odefa as National Vice Chairman (South-East), citing a subsisting court order that sacked him.
“They said they are going for their convention in November. I am not part of it until they have corrected the anomalies. If they want to have another round of crisis, so be it,” Wike said.
He dismissed speculations of a parallel convention, stressing that PDP’s NEC had not taken a formal decision on Ibadan as the venue. “As a NEC member, nobody has informed me of such a decision,” he added.
Wike’s allies, including former governors Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu, as well as PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, reportedly met with him in Abuja to deliberate on the issue. Sources close to the minister hinted that his camp was prepared to “fight to the end” unless the party corrected what they described as injustice.
In response, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, maintained that the convention would go ahead as scheduled. He insisted that Wike was duly notified, citing both personalised letters and public announcements in national dailies.
“Our NEC meetings have been properly convened. INEC has been duly informed. The venue for the national convention remains Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025. All preparations are ongoing, and all committees are working seamlessly towards a successful event,” Ologunagba stated.
He added that the party would take “necessary steps” if members acted outside the constitution, warning that PDP would not tolerate disloyalty. “We are focused on ensuring a seamless convention in the interest of democracy and our party,” he said.
The standoff has once again thrown the spotlight on PDP’s internal divisions, raising concerns about whether the convention will hold without further disruption.
