By Seyi Odewale
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, accusing them of deliberately undermining peace efforts and fuelling the deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Wike declared that he was withdrawing from all previous agreements reached to resolve the party’s internal rift.
He vowed to fight until justice was served.
Wike alleged that Makinde and Bala had been complicit in frustrating genuine reconciliation efforts and reneging on key resolutions.
Wike specifically blamed Makinde for architecting the PDP’s lingering woes, stating that his failure to adhere to earlier agreements had created instability within the party.
“At a meeting of the G5 in Lagos, I made it clear to Governor Makinde that he was the root of our problems. His constant refusal to honour agreements is the primary cause of the party’s troubles,” he said.
He further recounted an expanded meeting hosted by former Senate President Bukola Saraki in Abuja, which was attended by Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa.
According to Wike, tensions ran high at the meeting, especially after he accused Bala of hiding under cover of his position as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum to backtrack on earlier agreements.
Despite efforts to calm nerves and move forward, Wike said he noticed a clear pattern of betrayal and manipulation from both governors, which had derailed the reconciliation process.
“Before the Saraki-led Reconciliation Committee could even commence its work, the resolutions we reached were already being crudely violated,” he lamented.
Wike accused Makinde of colluding with Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu to orchestrate a controversial meeting of South-East PDP leaders, where they threatened to withdraw from the party unless Ude Okoye was imposed as National Secretary—contrary to the agreement affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s position, which the Supreme Court also upheld.
He further alleged that Makinde spearheaded a move within the PDP National Secretariat to install the Deputy National Secretary as acting National Secretary in violation of previously agreed terms.
“To give legitimacy to this charade, a letter was issued by the Deputy National Secretary convening a NEC meeting, which is completely illegitimate,” Wike stated.
The FCT Minister also accused the duo of orchestrating a rebuttal to a legitimate letter co-signed by Senator Anyanwu and the acting National Chairman, which confirmed the PDP’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
He claimed this was done through a counter-letter issued by the National Publicity Secretary at the behest of Makinde and Mbah.
Highlighting further damage caused by what he termed “scheming and sabotage,” Wike cited the May 24 PDP North-Central Zonal Congress in Jos, which was aborted due to the illegality of the invitation signed by the Deputy National Secretary.
He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to honour the invitation because it lacked Anyanwu’s proper legal signature.
“It is provocative, distasteful, and unacceptable. I have laid out these facts for PDP members and Nigerians to see how these individuals are sabotaging the party,” he said.
Wike expressed disappointment that he had been repaid with betrayal and dishonesty despite his unwavering loyalty and sacrifices for the PDP since 1998, including helping many governors win their elections without making any personal demands.
“None of these individuals can match my contributions to the party’s survival. What’s most painful is the erosion of trust.
“Since it’s now clear that they’re bent on playing games to destroy the party—evident in the crisis that marred the North-Central elections—I have decided to withdraw from all previous agreements. I will fight until justice is achieved,” he declared.
With this open confrontation, Wike has escalated the internal battle within the PDP, singling out Makinde and Bala as principal actors in a deliberate effort to destabilise the party.
