The battle for control of the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resurfaced yesterday with a clash between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Both men, who were political soul mates in 2023, threw potshots at each other.
Makinde, speaking during the inauguration of the PDP secretariat in Ibadan, launched a scathing attack on Wike and vowed that he would not allow the PDP to be dragged down.
Makinde said: “I know that a lot of you are concerned about the PDP, asking what is happening in the party. Well, we are all in Ibadan, which is the political, administrative and cultural capital of the Yoruba race.
“The first thing I want to say is that, in Yorubaland, we always say that if you see a house or a compound that is peaceful, it is because the illegitimate children in that house have not come of age.
The illegitimate children in the PDP grew up in 2015, had their time, and for 10 years – a decade – they practised their illegitimacy in the PDP. But they were expelled in November 2025. So, no more vagabonds in the PDP.
Whatever it is that they are doing, you should be able to trace it back to their origin. In 2015, the PDP lost power at the federal level.
“There was a gap in the leadership. Otherwise, those vagabonds would never have been able to take hold of the PDP.”
Makinde said he teamed up with Wike in the past when his mission was not clear to him.
He added: “Let me confess: I came into government in 2019 and towards 2023, I was yoked with them. But now, I have repented; I am no longer with them. But for them to hold the PDP for another party to be in power, it is no, no, no.
“If a lie endures for 20 years, truth will overtake it in one day. Liars can continue to peddle their lies, but I have absolute trust in Nigeria’s judiciary. I know they will do the needful.
“So, all these court cases will come together at some point, and the judiciary, being the last hope of the common man, will give justice to the PDP.
Explaining why the Oyo PDP secretariat was named after Omokunmi Mustapha, Makinde said the former chairman was instrumental to the return of the party to power in Oyo State in 2019.
Wike, on Monday, after a meeting of the Rahaman Mohammed-led caretaker committee, announced March 29 as the date for the party’s convention and specifically said he was interested in the situation of the party in Oyo State.
He said: “Let me declare my interest clearly: I am interested in the survival and success of this party. I am also interested in all the happenings in Oyo State PDP.
It is believed that this remark was what Makinde responded to yesterday.
However, after the governor’s comments, Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, fired back at Makinde.
In a post on X, he stated: “He (Makinde) admitted that he was a vagabond. He said he has now repented. So he is first a vagabond who claimed to have repented. Happy repentance to him from being a vagabond.
However, in my place, it is said that even when a madman is cured of his madness, there will still remain some traces of madness.
“Therefore, like he has been inconsistent politically, don’t be surprised tomorrow when he returns to being the same vagabond that he claimed to have repented from.
“But the truth is, we understand his fears and worries. We understand that he knows what is coming. But too bad, we can’t help him from being consumed by the fire of political treachery that he ignited.”
Wike’s aide added: “There is this political vagabond and harlot in Ibadan. He is only loyal to his personal political interests and he is always ready to sacrifice anything, including friendship.
“In 2007, when he sought the PDP ticket to contest for the Senate and he couldn’t get it, he went to the ANPP.
“In 2015, when he sought the PDP ticket to contest for governor and couldn’t get it, he went to the SDP.
Now that this vagabond has been expelled from the PDP, and his Ibadan amala ‘kanifa’ nullified by the court, where will he go next?”
The bigger end of the stick swung to Wike’s bloc on Friday when the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the November 16 PDP convention held in Ibadan.
The court declared all decisions taken at the convention null and void, including the election of the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the expulsion of Wike and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, among others.
It restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the Turaki-led NWC and affirmed that only a caretaker committee could run the PDP pending another convention to elect national leaders.
The Wike camp’s caretaker committee, led by Mohammed, swiftly held a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and announced March 29 for the convention.
But the Turaki NWC said it had appealed the judgment and was seeking a stay of execution.
The party’s National Secretariat remains sealed by the police following clashes between the two factions over control of the office
The caretaker committee, which dissolved the North-West, South-West and Plateau State working committees, said new leadership structures would be set up soon.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the decision was taken at a meeting of the committee in Abuja.
He also said the national convention would now be held on March 29 and 30, instead of March 28 and 29, as previously announced.
Mohammed said: “Recall that yesterday (Monday), during the NEC meeting, a date was announced for the national convention of the party, which was billed to hold on the 28th and 29th of March.
“However, after careful consideration of certain factors, the date has been slightly adjusted for the convention to take place on the 29th to the 30th of March, instead of the earlier 28th–29th of March.
Secondly, the National Caretaker Working Committee has equally dissolved the Northwest, Southwest and Plateau State zonal committees. The zonal committees of the PDP will have caretaker committees appointed soon.
“Furthermore, the timetable approved for the congresses in the states, zonal and ward congresses will take effect as approved by the NEC.
“The National Caretaker Working Committee will consult widely before the announcement of the National Convention Planning Committee. These are the resolutions, or major decisions, that have been reached after today’s meeting.”
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Mohammed, said the party was united under his leadership.
He said the committee would work round the clock to organise an all-inclusive national convention.
He said: “There is no division in the PDP under my leadership. The PDP is united. We are working towards a peaceful and all-inclusive convention of our party.
I am sure that members of the party are following developments and know that we are genuinely working to reposition this party.
“The party remains united, committed to bringing its members together, and focused on forging ahead in preparation for future elections.
“This caretaker committee is also working in accordance with the PDP constitution and electoral laws to organise an all-inclusive national convention.
