Trouble looms as Wike vows to stop PDP convention

More troubles trail the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, vowed to stop the party from holding its national convention, scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, between November 15 and 16 this year, while the party insisted the convention must hold.

As Wike denied knowledge of the party’s convention, the PDP also denied knowledge of any plans in any quarters or by anyone to scuttle the convention or organise a parallel convention.

While Wike questioned the legitimacy of the planned convention, the party described the rumoured planned parallel convention as speculation, unfounded and a conjecture.

Speaking on Tuesday evening, during a television programme monitored by Daily Times, Wike stated emphatically that the NEC, as the party’s highest decision-making body, has not convened to authorise any such plans.

“NEC has not met. I am an NEC member, and I have not received any invitation to the NEC meeting. Where did they (NEC) agree?” Wike asked pointedly.

Wike stressed that any claim of a decision being taken outside of a properly convened NEC meeting lacks legitimacy.

The minister said any such announcement made without a formal NEC meeting is procedurally invalid.

“As a NEC member, I’ve not been told, and nobody has invited me for NEC meeting to say NEC has held any meeting.

“I am not aware that there is any PDP convention in Ibadan.” He reiterated.

Reacting to reports that some factions within the party may have met and concluded on key decisions, Wike dismissed such gatherings as lacking official weight.

“If a few people, or a few people who work as a team, say that they have held a NEC meeting. Okay, so be it,” he said, indicating the growing tension and internal disputes within the PDP.

Asked what steps he would take should the party proceed with the convention without following due process,

Speaking further, Wike issued a firm warning, saying that he won’t hesitate to drag the party to court to challenge the process until the right thing is done,” he declared.

PDP Insists Convention Will Hold

Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunaga, dismissed the capability of any person or group to derail the party’s plan to hold its convention.

He spoke at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, during an interactive session with the media.

When asked if he was aware that a few members are really planning a parallel national convention in Abuja, the spokesperson said, “We cannot be aware of a non-existing thing. And you said, this is speculation, that’s your word. And that’s indeed a speculation. How do you have a national convention? There is a process, and we’re a party of process indeed. And what we do is that we follow the constitution of our party.”

An elated Ologunagba said a programme whose implementation has commenced and cannot be stopped by anyone, while adding that anyone with such an idea of a parallel national convention is running against the tide of development within the party.

The NPS said, “Interestingly, the process has started; we have been in sync with our regulator, INEC. INEC has been attending all the meetings.

“They have witnesses to all the things we’re doing. That might be a media hype, people testing the waters. In fact, it does not exist. The local organising committee is working hard. The venue committee is working already ahead of time. Even before the inauguration of those subcommittees, they’re already working. And we’re methodical in the things we do.

“So it’s in the realm of conjecture, probably. I think it would be in the realm of hallucination. And this train has moved on. It’s gone past the bus stop. We’re actually in Ibadan, as I speak.”

Ologunagba, at the event, gave an update on preparations by different committees and sub-committees.

He said the National Convention Planning Committee, headed by Governor Ahmadu Fintri of Adamawa State, has started consultations.

“So I am aware that several committees within that body have been meeting, and I can report that immediately after the inauguration, they had their first inaugural meeting, and I’m aware that several other meetings have taken place, and it is preparing to enter the national convention, holding at Ibadan on the 15th and 16th of November, 2025. (4:13)

“Again, another important committee (4:17) towards that process is the National Convention (4:20) Organising Committee.

“That again, yesterday, we published the list of that committee, headed by the Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency Ahmadu Fintiri. And in due course, a subcommittee will be created to help the main committee in executing a successful convention at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on the 15th and 16th of November, 2025. So in due course, we’ll be publishing several of the subcommittees.

“To show the inclusiveness of our party, every state chapter contributed to populating those subcommittees. Every organ of the party, the BOT, the Governor’s Forum, the state chapters, and all other relevant bodies, and of course, other stakeholders who are founding fathers and founding mothers, they’re all accommodated.

“So that they can bring diverse ideas, because we’re determined to make a very strong statement about the capacity of this party to organise itself, to bring itself back when there are challenges that we have, and to ensure that every organ, every party member, has a sense of belonging, because we’re truly the people’s democratic party.

“So it is a bottom-up approach in our party. So like I said earlier, every organ of the party is involved. They are all excited. The momentum and feedback we’re getting from the field are really exciting. So we are moving on,” he said.

On the PDP’s readiness, he said, “I can say to you, the party’s ready for Ibadan. We’re very ready. We are coasting on. We’re determined because this would show the capacity of PDP to stand up, to defend democracy, and to do the right thing, ensuring that every interest and every organ of the party is carried along in ensuring that Nigerians can now remember and have the opportunity again of having a party that is truly democratic and that has the interest of the Nigerian people at heart.

“The People’s Democratic Party is ready for the national convention scheduled by NEC for Ibadan, Oyo state capital, for November 15th and 16th, 2025.”

Addressing accusations of anti-party conduct, Wike argued that the party leadership has itself acted outside the bounds of the PDP constitution.

“What is called anti-party? The party worked against the constitution of the party. You know that our constitution is clear. I stand to support the person of our party, equity, fairness and justice,” he said.

When asked if, as a party man, he will support the candidate of the party come 2027, Wike said that he prioritises national interest over party sentiment.

“None of those people serves the interest of PDP more than me. I’m a Nigerian, and I can contribute to the development of this country. I’m not the first person to serve in another party while belonging to another party.

“A party man does not mean that I should pick somebody who won’t serve the interest of this country. Because I’m a party man, therefore I want the country to start going backward again?”

On the issue of zoning and the 2027 general election, Wike signalled his continued support for a power shift to the South.

“It will still be. When the party do the right thing, they (Nigerians) will determine from that,” he concluded, adding that the future of the PDP depends on whether it respects equity, fairness, and internal democracy.