The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, will not stand a chance of winning the presidential election against President Bola Tinubu in 2027, if it does not change its zoning system.
The Minister made the statement during a live media parley on Monday, where he cited the non-adherence of the Party to its constitutional provisions, regarding the zoning of the Chairmanship and Presidential candidacy of the party.
This comes as former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, inducted former Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and 38 others into the party’s Board of Trustees.
During the inauguration on Monday in Abuja, Wabara called on the new members to help steer the PDP towards renewed success and significance, asserting that the party remained very much alive.
However, Wike said some members manipulated the provisions of the party for selfish interests during the 2023 general elections, which saw the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party, and chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who were both from the northern zone, noting that if the PDP tried the same in 2027, it would backfire.
“If PDP does not take care, and I say it again, watch out for what will happen. You know, selfish interest can kill an organisation. You have not won an election; you are excluding people. Let us tell ourselves the simple truth; in 2023, we told the party, it is in our constitution, it is in our tradition, when these people take the chairman, these people will take the Presidential Candidate. Because of selfish interests, they manipulated the system.
“They said no, we should not do zoning now. Before we knew, some people had gone to buy forms. Now, a zone took the chairman of the party, a zone took the presidential candidate. Of course, arrogance came in, ‘Forget it; we have won the election.’ See where we are. And I’ve told them, where are you zoning your presidential candidate now? Where will it go? Why not, as a party, come out openly now and say our presidential candidate will also come from the south? You don’t want to do that. You want to play the same game you played in 2023. It will backfire. The point here is that selfishness can kill a system,” he said.
Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has been plagued by internal strife. Conflicts deepened after a clash between Governor Sim Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike in Rivers State, along with leadership disputes in the South-South zone and the unresolved vacancy of the National Secretary since December 2024.
Despite interventions from the party’s top organs, including the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, NEC, and the Governors Forum efforts to heal the rift have only intensified internal divisions, further splintering state and zonal chapters.
Amid the growing unrest, dissatisfaction has led some members to defect to the All Progressives Congress. The most notable shift came on April 23, when Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, ex-Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other key officials switched parties, dealing a major blow to the PDP’s image and weakening its outlook for the 2027 elections.
Addressing recent defections from the party, particularly by the Governor of Delta State, Sherriff Oborevwori, and other stakeholders of the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, Wike defended the governor’s move, noting that his declaration of support for President Tinubu was not a crime.
“When people talk about the governor of Delta State and his predecessor, and their team moving out of PDP to APC, what wrong did he do? That he said he was going to support Tinubu, the President, is a crime? But the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the conscience of the party, adopted Alex Otti for a second tenure. Why are people not commenting about that? The Chairman of the BoT of the PDP adopted Alex Otti, the governor under the Labour Party, for a second tenure. Now, this man said look, I am not going to do this type of pretence. I will not be here and say I am supporting this person; it is better that I move and go and support him. Smart politician. I am surprised that PDP said they didn’t see it coming,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State Governor also faulted what he described as impunity within the party, adding that the PDP, as an opposition party, was yet to organise itself to take over the helm of affairs.
“In anything you are doing, if you do not have the right leadership, this is what you will suffer. For Christ’s sake, no opposition party worth its salt will act with impunity. It is only a ruling party, normally, because they are in power, that acts with impunity. Opposition does not do that, because opposition is going to organise itself to say I can take over the helm of affairs of government. How many times have they made efforts? How many people have you wooed? Rather, you are after one man; every day, you are after Wike. You abandoned what you are supposed to do,” the Minister said.
Rivers crisis
Addressing developments in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, Wike disclosed that the suspended Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara, had visited him, in company of two other governors from the APC, to have peace talks, noting however that the governor continued to foil peace efforts.
“Yes, he came. He came with two governors and one other person. Unfortunately, the two governors are APC governors, so I will not pursue them. And he said he wants peace, fine. I want peace,” he said.
The minister also described the experiences of the embattled governor as “self-inflicted injury”, noting that he had previously invited the governor in the presence of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, and former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, noting, however, that Fubara failed to heed their advice.
“Indeed, this is a self-inflicted injury. He does not need it. When this thing started, I called him, Seyi Makinde was there, Ortom was there, Ikpeazu was there, Ugwuanyi was there, we were scouting. We sat him down and said this thing is not good for you,” he stated. “This was a young man, I said look, go this way, go this way, you will not have problems. People came, do not mind him, assert yourself as the governor. You have asserted now, trouble has come. They have declared a state of emergency; who wears the show knows where it pinches him. Who will suffer? Assuming now, you don’t settle this problem, and the state of emergency is called off, has the problem ended? No.”
Wike also said he was doubtful of the capacity of the governor to make peace, noting that while he (Fubara) sued for peace, there were steps he was yet to take.
“I told him, I don’t think you can really make this peace, because it’s not easy. Why? If you are making peace, and your people are demonstrating every day; if you are making peace and your people are busy on television insulting people, how do you feel in that case? You must take steps. There are leaders you should meet. Have you met the assembly people? It’s not to say I want peace, you must show by conduct and by action, that indeed (you want peace).”
Wabara inaugurates BoT
Meanwhile, the members inaugurated into the BoT to serve for three years include former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; former National Vice Chairman of the party in the South West, Eddy Olafeso; former Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion and former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.
Other members installed are former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; former Minister of National Planning, Mohammed Daggash and former Ogun State governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu, among others.
The ceremony comes in the wake of The PUNCH report on February 9, which disclosed that 85 of the 127 PDP BoT members had not been participating in party activities.
The inauguration is intended to revitalise the board as it faces growing internal issues.
Section 31(5) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended) defines the BoT as the party’s moral compass, tasked with upholding ethical standards and the party’s reputation, offering guidance on policy matters, resolving conflicts, and protecting party property.
The PDP BoT chairman stated that the event marks not just a celebration of fresh starts, but also a reaffirmation of our united dedication to the values and principles that define our party.
Wabara stated, “Today (Monday), we are welcoming a distinguished group of individuals whose dedication, experience, and unwavering loyalty to the PDP have earned them a place on this prestigious Board. Your appointment to the Board of Trustees is a call to serve, a call to uphold the integrity, unity, and vision of our party as we continue to strive for a more prosperous and democratic Nigeria.
“As custodians of the party’s conscience, the BoT plays a critical role in providing wise counsel, fostering stability, and ensuring that our decisions align with the core objectives of the PDP. Your role as members of the Board is not only to guide and support the leadership of the party but also to act as a stabilising force in times of challenges and uncertainties.
“Today’s inauguration is particularly significant as we prepare to navigate the evolving political landscape and work tirelessly to restore the PDP as the foremost party in Nigeria. The task ahead is demanding, but with unity, determination, and unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy, we shall overcome.”
Wabara reminded PDP BoT members that their role is not only an honor but also a responsibility, urging them to serve with integrity, transparency, and dedication to the party and nation’s welfare.
“PDP is not dead so, let us continue to work together, to uphold the vision of our founding fathers, and to build a stronger, more inclusive, and more progressive party. Together, we shall lead our party to new heights of success and relevance in the Nigerian political landscape, he added.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated BoT members, former National Vice Chairman (South West), Eddy Olafeso, said the inauguration marked a fresh start for the PDP.
Across Nigeria, chilling stories of children brutalised by their parents often slip through the cracks, buried under the guise of discipline.
Punch
He stated, “This marks a new beginning for our party, a regeneration of its glorious past, and a commitment to ensuring that, from this moment on, the PDP can effectively serve as a strong opposition party across the country. We are bringing in new ideas, new people, and a new orientation.
“With the quality of leadership and the heritage of our past, we can make Nigeria better than it is today. We are all excited to go back to work, and that’s exactly what we will do.
“Many of us have stood firm for the PDP for over 20 years, and we won’t stray from that path. We aim to restore the party’s glorious past, where people can send their children to school, where insecurity is a thing of the past, and where the economy and employment issues start to improve.”
In his earlier remarks, PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, congratulated the newly inaugurated BoT members and urged them to assist the National Working Committee in steering the party’s affairs.
Damagum, who was represented by the acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, stated, “The Board of Trustees is the conscience of the party, and the Constitution entrusts it with the great responsibility of guiding the PDP; not just as Nigeria’s leading party but as a beacon for Africa.
“We in the NWC are here as your chief servants, ready to rely on your advice and guidance. We assure you of our full support in ensuring the smooth running of the party.”
Reconciliation committee
Also, the PDP Governors Forum, along with former governors, named ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki as the head of a seven-member reconciliation committee.
Announcing this to journalists after a key meeting on Monday in Abuja, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said the committee’s mandate was to engage party members and foster unity ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting on May 27 and its National Elective Convention scheduled for August.
The committee also includes the Governors of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal; Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang; and Enugu State, Peter Mbah, as well as former Bayelsa Governor Senator Seriake Dickson, former Gombe Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Mohammed confirmed that the gathering of current and former governors was convened to address and find solutions to some of these ongoing issues.
He stated, “We discussed some of the issues relating to our party some existential issues, of course that have been circulating in the media and among us, so that we will be able to navigate smoothly for the NEC scheduled to take place on the 27th of this month. By August, we will have an early convention.
“Many issues and reports have emerged, and this meeting is an opportunity to close ranks and ensure that, at the very least, there are no ill feelings, no qualms, and no misgivings among the leaders of the party. The governors of the party have reached out to our colleagues who have served before and who have more in-depth experience.
“Whatever suggestions or opinions they may offer will go a long way in adding momentum to the success of our NEC and the convention scheduled to take place on specific dates. It will also help reassure our teeming supporters that the PDP is working and remains united.
“There are some gaps here and there. We have set up a committee of seven, headed by His Excellency, the former Senate President and former Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki to ensure that reconciliation efforts and outreach are conducted swiftly. This will help us achieve a very peaceful and harmonious NEC and convention.”
