IBADAN, Oyo State — The political drama within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don enter new level as Governor Nyesom Wike don withdraw from reconciliation talks amid conflict with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. This matter fit affect the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting wey dey scheduled for May 27.
Wike, for statement wey e drop on Sunday, allege say Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah na the people behind the wahala wey don dey fester for the PDP. This withdrawal come as the Board of Trustees of the PDP dey call for meeting for Abuja to address the raging crisis.
Source wey dey close to the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) told The PUNCH say, the reconciliation panel wey former Senate President Bukola Saraki dey lead hold emergency meeting last night with key party stakeholders to try resolve the issues before the NEC meeting.
Since after the 2023 election, PDP don dey face plenty internal issues wey dey threaten the party’s unity. Conflicts between governors, especially Wike and his supporters against those of Makinde, dey add fuel to the fire. Wike dey lament say the decisions wey dey come from the NWC, under Makinde’s influence, dey undermine the party structure.
“The party dey swing from one issue to another, and na lack of trust wey don lead to all this wahala,” Wike talk as e highlight the betrayal wey don happen. E mention how dem set resolutions during G5 meeting but the agreements don dey violate, particularly to maintain Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
“Makinde and Mbah don dey try undermine the party; them even organize meeting to look for how to side-line Anyanwu, and this na clear disloyalty,” Wike add, stressing the impact of leadership disarray on the party.
Amidst this tension, Saraki don vow to bring Wike back to negotiation, stressing sey the stability of PDP dey crucial to Nigeria’s democracy. E caution sey if PDP collapse, e go mean sey Nigeria go dey enter one-party state.”
As the crisis dey unfold, the anticipation for the NEC meeting dey now uncertain. Sources say the Saraki panel dey try organize emergency meetings to see how them fit still hold the NEC meeting without worsening the rift.
For state level, reactions dey vary, as Ekiti PDP chairman Dare Adeleke dey accuse Wike of not acting in the party’s interest, while Ogun PDP Secretary Sunday Solarin suggest sey Wike don dey plan to cross over to APC. Meanwhile, other states dey maintain sey Wike dey act against PDP and call for strong leadership action. For Jawbone State, Wike dey drawn criticism as his actions dey viewed as detrimental to party unity.
A source from the NWC reveal sey, some governors like Makinde dey push to make sure sey the NEC meeting fit hold to legitimize their decisions. But Wike’s faction dey threaten to disrupt the proceedings, creating more uncertainty around the future of the party as they prepare for the meeting.
As it stands, the next major development for the PDP go happen today as the Board of Trustees convene. The outcome of these meetings will greatly influence the party’s direction and resolution of the ongoing malaise within the PDP.
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