Makinde’s Presidential Ambition Behind Crisis In PDP — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has blamed the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on what he described as the presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Wike stated this on Monday during his end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he accused Makinde of actions that destabilised the party’s leadership structure and deepened internal divisions.

“Now he said he wants to be president,” Wike said. “It is Seyi Makinde’s ambition that brought PDP into this crisis.”

The former Rivers State governor alleged that Makinde deliberately orchestrated events aimed at undermining the party’s national leadership, particularly the office of the National Secretary.

“He went and arranged with some people to make sure the National Secretary is absent,” Wike claimed.

According to him, Makinde and his allies also sought judicial backing from a court that lacked the jurisdiction to intervene in party affairs.

“He lured people to the State High Court in Enugu when he knew that the State High Court has no jurisdiction over the party,” Wike said. “They got the judgment and we said, no problem.”

Wike explained that despite internal disagreements, efforts were made to resolve the matter amicably, noting that Senator Samuel Anyanwu eventually emerged as the PDP National Secretary. “Sam Anyanwu won,” he stated.

“We told him that the convention is coming, just hold on. It is remaining one year. After that, those that we don’t want to come back will not come back.”

He accused Makinde of rejecting the proposed political compromise and escalating the matter to the Supreme Court, where the case was eventually lost.

“He refused and went to the Supreme Court, then he lost,” Wike said.

The FCT minister further noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later affirmed Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the PDP.

“Until when they went to INEC, INEC told them that Sam Anyanwu is the Secretary of PDP,” he added.

Wike said several reconciliation meetings were held involving key party leaders in an effort to maintain unity, but alleged that Makinde consistently acted contrary to agreements reached.

“Senator Bukola Saraki can bear me witness,” he said. “We have gone to his guest house several times. Governor Fintiri was there.”

“There is nothing we agreed to do that Makinde will not go and do a different thing,” Wike added, “and that is why we are where we are today.”