PDP Faces Internal Showdown as Wike’s Camp Issues Six-Point Ultimatum Ahead of Ibadan Convention

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) braced for a fierce internal battle as a faction led by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike issued a six-point ultimatum to the National Working Committee (NWC), threatening to invalidate the party’s National Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, unless their demands are met, as reported by Vanguard and ThisDay (Web:0, Web:5, Web:19). The demands, outlined after a late-night meeting on September 1 at Wike’s Abuja residence, include fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, a new South-East Zonal Congress, recognition of the South-South Congress, immediate Ekiti LGA congresses, no micro-zoning beyond the NEC’s 2021 formula, and retaining the national chairmanship in the North-Central zone. Wike’s camp, including former governors Samuel Ortom, Ayo Fayose, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu, warned that non-compliance would disenfranchise members and render the convention invalid, citing a need for equity and judicial compliance (Web:1, Web:4, Web:23).

The PDP leadership, during the September 2 inauguration of the 119-member National Convention Organising Committee in Abuja, rejected the ultimatum as blackmail, vowing to uphold discipline and ensure a credible convention (Web:3, Web:17). Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, declared the governors “not cowards,” accusing Wike’s faction of forming a “faction of fools” and promising to prevent the party’s destruction (Web:17). National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum called the convention “sacrosanct,” alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is backing internal saboteurs to destabilize the PDP, and urged unity to reclaim power in 2027 (Web:5, Web:21). Convention Committee Chairman Ahmadu Fintiri, supported by Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke, pledged a transparent process, stating, “Nobody will be denied the chance to contest,” and criticized media leaks as “embarrassing” (Web:15, Web:17). Senator Ahmed Makarfi, representing Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, emphasized that the majority will prevail but inclusivity remains key (Web:15).

The conflict reflects deep-seated tensions, fueled by Wike’s influence through the G-5 governors and disputes over the 2023 elections, where the PDP lost the presidency and key states (Web:7, Web:18). The NEC’s August 25 decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and retain Damagum as chairman until the convention intensified the rift, as Wike’s camp insists on North-Central chairmanship retention (Web:7, Web:12). The faction’s focus on court orders, such as those mandating congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, underscores legal risks, while the leadership’s defiance aims to curb Wike’s dominance (Web:1, Web:21). X posts from @PDPNigeria (September 2, 2025) highlighted the party’s resolve, while @Naija_Activist noted 69% public skepticism about PDP’s unity, per a 2025 Afrobarometer survey (Post:3). With 65% of Nigerians distrusting political parties (Gallup, 2025), the PDP’s failure to reconcile could weaken its 2027 prospects against the APC, mirroring recent APC factionalism in Zamfara (Web:8, Web:17).