Politics

Tension Rises as Wike, Makinde Factions Battle for PDP Secretariat

Published

2 months ago

February 9, 2026

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike

Tension Rises as Wike, Makinde Factions Battle for PDP Secretariat

Tension is mounting within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as rival factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and governors aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde prepare for a potential confrontation over the planned reopening of the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

The crisis follows plans by a 13-member caretaker committee, backed by Wike, to reopen the secretariat on Monday, reportedly with police support, a move that has raised fears of clashes between opposing party factions.

Speaking after a private meeting at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters on Thursday, Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary of the Wike-backed faction, confirmed that the group would take control of the PDP national secretariat on Monday.

The dispute over control of the party’s headquarters stems from an ongoing power struggle between the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led faction, supported by governors including Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and the caretaker committee formed by the Wike-backed bloc.

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Turaki’s faction insists on the legitimacy of the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15, 2025, a position that was, however, nullified by a ruling of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. Previous attempts by both camps to access the Wadata Plaza secretariat have resulted in confrontations and police intervention.

Jogudo Mohammed, the Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee, said the police had been directed to reopen the secretariat in line with the Ibadan court judgment.

“Once the secretariat has been fumigated, the committee plans to proceed with convention activities there,” Mohammed said.

He confirmed that the reopening was scheduled for Monday, February 9, adding that fumigation and general cleanup would begin immediately due to the prolonged closure of the facility.

According to him, the sale of nomination forms for elective positions ahead of the March PDP convention, including ad hoc forms, would commence on Tuesday, all at the Wadata Plaza secretariat.

Mohammed stressed that the court judgment remained valid and enforceable, noting that filing an appeal does not automatically suspend its execution.

“The judgment remains subsisting and in full force of law unless set aside by a superior court,” he said, expressing confidence that the police would act in line with the ruling.

He further warned that any attempt by members of the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC)—who were restrained from acting as national officers—to disrupt activities at the secretariat could amount to contempt of court.

A senior member of the caretaker committee also disclosed that security agencies, including the police, were prepared to remove barricades at Wadata Plaza, citing compliance with the Ibadan court ruling.

“The Inspector General of Police, the DSS, INEC, and other agencies were duly served with the judgment. They are fully aware that the Turaki group is not recognised as the party’s leadership,” the source said.

However, the Turaki-led faction has strongly cautioned against what it described as self-help, insisting that the matter remains under appeal.

The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, warned that any breakdown of law and order would be the responsibility of the police.

“Our suit is still pending before Justice Abdul Malik, and the Court of Appeal matter is alive. Whatever happens tomorrow—violence, attacks, destruction of property—will rest on the police,” he said.

Former PDP National Vice Chairman (South West), Eddy Olafeso, expressed optimism that the Court of Appeal would eventually resolve the crisis, describing the secretariat dispute as a minor issue in the broader legal battle.

“This crisis will not be the end of the PDP,” Olafeso said. “Despite conspiracies and internal challenges, we believe justice will prevail. Hope is on the way.”

As both factions dig in ahead of Monday’s planned reopening, the PDP faces one of its most critical internal tests, with party unity and public confidence hanging in the balance.

Tension Rises as Wike, Makinde Factions Battle for PDP Secretariat

Related Topics:Featured Makinde PDP Secretariat Wike

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Aiyedatiwa Sacks All Political Aides, Plans 1,000 New Appointments

Published

1 hour ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa

Aiyedatiwa Sacks All Political Aides, Plans 1,000 New Appointments

Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has terminated the appointments of all his political aides, including Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs), in a bold move aimed at enhancing governance efficiency and deepening service delivery. The decision was announced in Akure by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday.

According to the statement, the sack affects all political appointees serving under the governor, who was elected in 2025. The governor thanked the outgoing aides for their service and wished them well in their future endeavours. The mass disengagement comes amid a broader effort to strengthen administration at the grassroots level, ahead of the 2027 elections.

To replace the dismissed aides, Governor Aiyedatiwa announced plans to appoint about 1,000 new political aides drawn from all 203 wards across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State. These new aides are expected to serve as community liaisons, administrative support officers, and coordination aides, improving citizen engagement and service delivery throughout the state.

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Resignations Ahead of APC Primaries

In line with INEC regulations for electoral participation, several political appointees have submitted resignation letters to pursue elective offices in the 2027 general elections. These include:

Hon. Gbenga Omole, Special Adviser on Transport
Hon. Fadairo Oluwafemi, SSA on Community Engagement (Central)
Dr. Olusegun Victor Ategbole, Chairman, Ondo State Hospital Management Board
Engr. Razaq Obe, Director General, Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU)
Hon. Adeola Fynch, Secretary, Akure South Local Government, effective March 20, 2026

Notably, Hon. Adeola Fynch resigned to contest for the Akure South Constituency 1 seat in the State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform. Resignations were formally tendered through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti.

Implications for Governance

Observers say the shake-up reflects Aiyedatiwa’s intent to broaden representation, strengthen local governance, and inject fresh capacity into the state administration. By recruiting aides from every ward, the governor aims to enhance grassroots engagement and ensure efficient delivery of public services.

Analysts, however, caution that integrating a large number of new aides may require significant orientation and coordination to maintain continuity in governance and policy implementation.

This sweeping restructuring highlights the government’s focus on accountability, community involvement, and electoral compliance, positioning Ondo State for stronger administrative performance in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Aiyedatiwa Sacks All Political Aides, Plans 1,000 New Appointments

Politics

Court Sacks Turaki-Led PDP Executives, Orders Security to Back Wike Camp

Published

3 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Court Sacks Turaki-Led PDP Executives, Orders Security to Back Wike Camp

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened significantly after a Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a decisive judgment that reshapes the party’s leadership battle.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik barred the Kabiru Turaki-led faction from accessing the PDP national secretariat and declared the party’s controversial Ibadan convention null and void.

The court held that the convention, conducted in Ibadan between November 15 and 16, 2025, violated existing court orders and contravened the provisions of both the PDP constitution and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

According to the judgment, the convention breached Section 287(3) of the Constitution, which mandates strict compliance with judicial decisions. Justice Abdulmalik emphasised that no political group or institution is above the law, declaring that all resolutions, leadership appointments, and decisions reached at the gathering are “null and void.”

The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise any outcomes from the invalidated convention. This effectively strips the Turaki-led executives of any legal authority within the PDP.

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In a related directive, the court ordered security agencies—including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services—to ensure that the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has unhindered access to the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The suit was filed on November 21, 2025, by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu, who identified themselves as interim national chairman and secretary of the party. Backed by Wike’s camp, they challenged the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention and sought to stop the Turaki faction from acting on behalf of the PDP.

Delivering her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik also invalidated disciplinary actions taken during the convention, including the suspension and expulsion of party members loyal to the plaintiffs. She described those moves as unlawful and carried out in defiance of subsisting court orders.

The court stressed that political parties must operate within their constitutions and obey judicial rulings, warning that any attempt to undermine the rule of law threatens democratic stability.

With this judgment, the Wike-aligned faction appears to have gained a significant legal advantage in the ongoing PDP leadership crisis, although the Turaki camp may still challenge the decision at the appellate courts.

The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for the opposition party as it navigates internal divisions ahead of future political contests.

Court Sacks Turaki-Led PDP Executives, Orders Security to Back Wike Camp

Politics

Wike Mocks Peter Obi, Says He ‘Ran Away’ From Labour Party Crisis

Published

23 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate Peter Obi and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike

Wike Mocks Peter Obi, Says He ‘Ran Away’ From Labour Party Crisis

Abuja, Nigeria — Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has sharply criticised former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of lacking leadership courage and commitment to manage internal party crises. Wike’s remarks came during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2026 National Convention held at Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Addressing delegates, Wike drew a parallel between Obi’s defection from the Labour Party and the recent departure of some PDP governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Leadership is not an easy task. Leadership requires courage. Leadership requires firmness. Leadership requires commitment,” Wike said. “When crisis came in the Labour Party, it was time it was required for him to show leadership. He ran away because he could not solve problems.”

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Wike criticised both Obi and the defecting PDP governors, claiming they had shown a fundamental absence of the qualities required to lead during challenging political moments.

“The presidential candidate of the Labour Party was given a platform to pursue his ambition. But when challenges arose, he abandoned it. The same thing applies to some governors who ran away when crises emerged,” he added.

Obi’s Political Realignment

Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election behind President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, officially left the Labour Party in 2025 and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Since then, he has become a key figure in a growing opposition coalition that includes Atiku, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, all positioning to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Wike’s comments highlight the intensifying political rivalry within Nigeria’s opposition and reflect ongoing debates about leadership, loyalty, and party realignment as the country prepares for its next election cycle.