Politics

PDP crisis: Wike camp rejects zoning talks with Makinde, Diri

Published

10 months ago

August 22, 2025

Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party National Elective Convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State, the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

This is as a reliable source within the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that the PDP Governors’ Forum will convene in Zamfara State on Saturday.

According to the source, the governors are expected to arrive in Gusau, the state capital, on Friday before holding deliberations the next day on pressing issues that must be resolved to ensure a smooth national convention in Ibadan.

It had been earlier reported that Wike’s camp is resolute in its bid to prevent PDP’s November convention from taking place, citing disputes over the zonal leadership of the South-South and South-East.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, other governors and their allies are committed to ensuring that the convention proceeds as planned in line with the party’s constitution.

Amid these tensions, the zoning committee, led by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, continued its consultations across all regions as promised at its inauguration on August 14 and consequently held a meeting with Southern stakeholders in Lagos.

The 44-member committee, chaired by Diri, is expected to propose a zoning formula for the 19 National Working Committee positions between the North and the South at the 102nd National Executive Committee meeting next Monday.

At the meeting, the NEC will decide whether to adopt, reject, or amend the committee’s recommendations.

However, just hours before the Lagos Southern Zoning talks commenced, a few state chairmen, former governors, National Assembly members, and other key stakeholders aligned with Wike’s camp and publicly distanced themselves from the gathering.

The PDP leaders, in a statement jointly signed by party chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, alongside National Assembly leaders and other stakeholders, on Thursday, dismissed “any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes” purportedly emanating from the meeting as “neither binding on, nor reflective of the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria.”

They condemned the Lagos gathering, described as the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” insisting it was convened without proper consultation.

“The attention of the undersigned state chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party from the South and some critical stakeholders has been drawn to a meeting ‘Nicodemously’ summoned in Lagos today, 21st August 2025, by some persons purporting to do so on behalf of PDP members of the South tagged ‘PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,’ convened by the Admin Secretary, Zoning Committee of the PDP, at the behest of the Chairman Zoning Committee (H.E. Senator Duoye Diri) at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The said meeting, tagged a summit, was allegedly convened in the name of the three geopolitical zones of Southern Nigeria — South-East, South-South, and South-West.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically dismiss any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from this meeting as neither binding on, nor reflective of the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria. Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus,” the statement partly read.

The statement noted that the meeting, allegedly summoned by the Zoning Committee’s Administrative Secretary at the behest of Chairman Diri, was “deeply disturbing” because several state chairmen, national officers, principal lawmakers, and former governors were excluded.

“It is highly regrettable and indeed deeply disturbing that such a meeting was convened without the courtesy of inviting several state chairmen from the South-East and South-South, as well as the duly elected National Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser of our great party.

“Even more troubling is the inexplicable exclusion of several national officers, eminent leaders, and critical stakeholders of the PDP. Such a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP not only offends the spirit of collective decision-making but also risks undermining the very foundation upon which our party was built,” they said.

The signatories, including Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, O. K. Chinda; Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Nnachi; and former National Secretary Onwe S. Onwe, warned that the Lagos parley was “premature and targeted at protecting the interest and selfish ambition of a select few.”

They further urged the PDP National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to disregard any outcome of the meeting, declaring it “illegal and divisive.”

“We call on the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, and all stakeholders of the party to disregard any outcome of the said meeting, which is not only illegal but divisive.

“Take notice that where any iota of regard is given to the outcome of the purported meeting, we shall not hesitate to take appropriate steps in line with our party’s constitution to resist the same with full force,” the statement concluded.

Makinde lashes out at Wike

After the Lagos meeting, Makinde responded to Wike’s camp, explaining that the gathering was aimed at repositioning the PDP into a stronger and more vibrant party.

He added that the National Executive Committee would decide on zoning on Monday, stressing that he would not “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”

He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.

“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”

The governor noted that despite the challenges, recent elections demonstrated that the PDP still remained a strong and influential party.

“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that the PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, the PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” Makinde said.

Responding to questions on the zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde stated that the party had not reached that stage yet.

“We haven’t even got there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.

“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.

Dignitaries at the meeting included the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Bayelsa governor, Diri, Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Peter Mba of Enugu, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bode George, and Monsurat Sunmonu.

Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.

PDP govs’ meeting

Meanwhile, a source in the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that the primary focus of the party’s PDP Governors’ Forum meeting scheduled for Saturday in Zamfara is to ensure a smooth convention in Ibadan.

The source added that while most of the governors had agreed to pursue political solutions to outstanding issues, they were also prepared to apply pressure where necessary.

He stated, “The party leaders, that is, governors, Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, and others, are aware of the importance of the Ibadan Convention. The convention is crucial to the future of the PDP.

“So, all organs and structures of the party have been discussed at various levels. The governors will meet in Zamfara on Friday and Saturday. Arrival is Friday, and the meeting is expected to take place on Saturday.

“I also know that all our leaders, particularly the governors, have resolved to adopt political solutions where necessary to ensure that the November 15 and 16 Ibadan Convention holds as scheduled. They will also not be afraid to apply force through the organs and instruments of the party.

“With all these, our leaders will work together; the Ibadan Convention will hold as planned, and the PDP will bounce back to rescue Nigeria from the clueless All Progressives Congress come 2027.”

Attempts by our correspondent to obtain a reaction from PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages.

I support those with Tinubu – Wike

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Wike, has stated that he would support those who support President Bola Tinubu, urging residents to “support those that the government will listen to.”

Wike made the statement while commending former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda, and the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, during the flag-off of Lot 2 of Water Supply Projects in Karu, on Thursday.

The minister hailed both men for their capacity and for bringing development to the people, while promising the construction of a 2km road in Karu site, on the request of former Senator Aduda, adding that he will support those who continued to support the Tinubu-led administration.

He further commended the AMAC Chairman, Maikalangu, saying, “For me, I’m here to talk about those who have access to the government and bring something to the people. The chairman has access to us. Anything he tells us, we will do. This is the only man I know. If he wins as Chairman of AMAC, we will give him whatever he wants. I don’t know the party he belongs to. But I know that he supports Tinubu. Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him,” Wike said.

The Minister pointed out that past governments had failed to provide the needs of the people, particularly water supply to the communities in Karu, noting that the government of President Tinubu has fulfilled its promise to provide potable water to satellite towns.

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Politics

I am open to reconciling with Kano gov – Kwankwaso

Published

2 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he remains willing to forgive Governor Abba Yusuf and reconcile with him despite their political differences, insisting that his affection for his former protégé has not diminished.

Relationship between the two politicians soured after Yusuf defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party, under which he won the 2023 governorship election, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, a move that drew sharp criticism from members of the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Speaking in an interview in a video posted by BBC Hausa on Monday, Kwankwaso, who has also defected from NNPP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, said the door to reconciliation remains open.

He stressed that Yusuf was the one who chose to leave their political fold and that he would not turn him away if he decided to return.

“I still love Abba and I didn’t reject him, he is the one that left. So not just Abba, if anyone who left comes back, I won’t be unforgiving. Look at Ganduje, in the many years we worked together, we fell out several times and got back together. That is how politics works,” he said.

Kwankwaso argued that Yusuf’s electoral victory was made possible by the strength of the movement.

“We picked Abba to contest under the NNPP and we won, but he left to join the people we defeated. Some say he did so because he feared losing his position, but he knows there was no way we would have been defeated in Kano. If that were the case, we would have lost when he contested under our party,” he stated.

The former governor further explained that the movement intentionally fielded Yusuf in 2023 to demonstrate its political influence.

“We did not choose him because he was the most senior or the most educated. We chose him because we wanted to test the strength and calibre of the Kwankwasiyya movement at that time,” he said.

Emphasising the importance of tolerance in leadership, Kwankwaso said leaders must accept differing opinions and embrace forgiveness.

“As a leader, you need to have an open heart. You cannot force people to think the way you do because we all come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives. Without forgiveness, we would not have come this far,” he added.

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Politics

Peter Obi slams Tinubu over rising debt, says N200tn borrowed without accountability

Published

3 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he described as excessive borrowing and poor fiscal accountability.

Obi said Nigeria’s total public debt has risen to about N200 trillion, which he attributed to what he called “imprudent governance” under the current administration.

He said the debt level represents an increase of over N100 trillion in three years, contrasting it with the approximately N49 trillion accumulated during the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former Labour Party presidential flagbearer in the 2023 election stated this in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, saying the situation reflected a lack of accountability and transparency in the management of borrowed funds.

“President Bola Tinubu’s administration has engaged in remarkably imprudent borrowing, escalating Nigeria’s total debt to approximately N200 trillion. This represents an increase of over N100 trillion within a mere three years, a stark contrast to the roughly N49 trillion accumulated during President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, which would have projected to around N80 trillion.

“As millions of Nigerians grapple with the shock of this unsustainable debt accumulation, the situation is exacerbated by the government’s reckless approach to borrowing and a profound absence of accountability and transparency in the utilisation of these funds,” he said.

Citing figures from the Budget Office, Obi said the government borrowed N11.89 trillion in the first three quarters of 2025 (January to September), exceeding its planned borrowing target of N10.34 trillion by about N1.54 trillion.

He said such an overrun should ordinarily attract scrutiny and explanation from relevant authorities.

“Under a responsible and accountable government, such an overshoot would necessitate rigorous scrutiny and explanation from relevant governmental bodies. Regrettably, this is not the reality under the current administration,” he said.

Obi further claimed that only N3.10 trillion of the borrowed funds was allocated to capital expenditure during the January–September 2025 period, representing 17.66 per cent of the N17.58 trillion earmarked for capital projects, leaving a funding gap of about N14.48 trillion.

He questioned how the remaining funds were utilised.

“The most disturbing aspect of the financial management fiasco under Bola Tinubu is that there is no explanation or information regarding how the balance was utilised or deployed.

“The question that Nigerians are rightly asking and deserve an answer to is what happened to the balance? Was it deployed for recurrent expenditure/consumption, for the entertainment of guests to Aso Rock or transferred to the Renewed Hope Agenda 2027 Election Campaign Fund?

“Nigerians deserve an answer on how our economy and resources are most unpatriotically managed,” he said.

Nigeria has faced mounting debt pressures since the Tinubu administration’s major reforms began in mid-2023, including the removal of long-standing fuel subsidies and unification of the foreign exchange market.

These moves aimed to correct fiscal distortions but triggered immediate inflation spikes, naira volatility, and higher living costs, while increasing the local-currency burden of debt servicing.

Tinubu had disclosed in May 2026 that Nigeria plans to spend about $11.6 billion on debt servicing in 2026.

While supporters of the government argue that borrowings support critical infrastructure, critics warn of a debt without growth trap.

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Politics

ADC alleges PVC mop-up, fake Amotekun plot

Published

12 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dare Bejide, on Monday, alleged mop-up of Permanent Voter Cards in parts of the state by some agents who he said were illegally collecting the document.

The Director, Communications, Media and Publicity, Amb Dare Bejide Campaign Organisation, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, said the perpetrators, who he identified as All Progressives Congress agents, wanted to use the cards for sinister purposes, as he appealed to residents not to succumb to such.

Aribisogan also alleged at a press briefing in Ado Ekiti that some political thugs were being kitted in fake Amotekun Security Network uniforms, adding that “the individuals are being trained and mobilised to intimidate voters, snatch ballot boxes and attack polling agents on election day.”

The ADC campaign spokesperson, who said the impersonation of Amotekun operatives was a deliberate plot to confuse voters and discredit a regional security outfit that Ekiti people trusted.

He called on the Ekiti Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig Gen Olu Adewa (retd) and the police “to immediately identify and arrest anyone found wearing an Amotekun uniform without authorisation.”

Aribisogan said, “Across several local government areas in Ekiti, our party has documented a pattern where agents and foot soldiers of the APC are moving from house to house and polling units demanding the collection of PVCs and National Identification Numbers from voters.

“They promised cash, food items, or welfare support in exchange. This is a direct violation of Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits voter inducement and the seizure of voter cards.

“The aim is clear – disenfranchise citizens, harvest PVCs, and use them for thumb-printing and multiple voting on election day. No citizen should surrender their PVC or NIN to any political party agent. Your PVC is your power. Once you give it up, you give up your voice.”

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a public warning against PVC and NIN harvesting and to deploy its monitoring teams to flashpoints immediately.

“We use this medium to tell Ekiti people not to be intimidated. Do not surrender your PVC or NIN. Do not be cowed by thugs in borrowed uniforms. Your vote is your right, and it is your power. Come out on election day, vote and protect your vote,” Aribisogan stated.

But the APC state Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, who spoke in a telephone interview, said the ADC members had only displayed their ignorance once again with their allegations.

Dipe, who said advanced technology had made use of another person’s PVC impossible, queried what APC would want to do with anybody’s voter card.

“The ADC have run out of what to say, and they are only displaying their ignorance. Nobody is mopping up PVCs.

“We will pardon their ignorance if they think that you can collect anybody’s PVC. Why can’t they collect another person’s PVC and see how useful or useless it is? So we are pardoning their ignorance,” he said.

The APC spokesperson, who also dismissed the allegation of kitting thugs in Amotekun outfits, said, “Amotekun is the project of the APC government. It is not the project of any other person. So why would we get fake Amotekun when we can recruit as many people into Amotekun?

“The duty of Amotekun is different. Amotekun is to ensure that people are not kidnapped; they go into the bushes. Are we kitting fake people to go into the bushes? So again, we pardon their ignorance for not knowing the roles and functions of Amotekun.”

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