By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has issued a strong warning to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other aggrieved members against any moves capable of disrupting the party’s national convention slated for November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The warning came in a communiqué released after the Forum’s 7th meeting held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Gusau, Zamfara State. The meeting, chaired by the Forum’s chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, reaffirmed the governors’ full support for the resolutions of the party’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 2025, which set the framework for the Ibadan convention.
“The Forum reaffirms its full commitment to the resolutions of the 101st NEC meeting of July 2025 regarding the November 15 National Convention. It urges members to resist all attempts to derail the convention by anti-party forces, but to see the PDP as the only democratic institution and viable alternative for restoring Nigeria along the path of good governance and national development,” the communiqué stated.
The governors deliberated extensively on national issues, including insecurity, economic hardship, and what they described as the erosion of democratic values under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They accused the APC-led government of divisive governance and anti-people policies that have worsened the living conditions of Nigerians.
Commending party members for their resilience despite orchestrated defections, the governors stressed that the PDP remained the most credible platform to rescue Nigeria. They added that attempts to sow discord within the party would fail, as grassroots support for the PDP remained strong.
However, the Forum’s caution was clearly directed at Wike, who has publicly rejected decisions of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC). Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on August 19, the former Rivers State governor insisted that Chief Dan Orbih was the authentic National Vice Chairman (South-South), having emerged from a congress held in Calabar.
“Our congress was held in Calabar, and there’s nothing anybody can tell us. If they want to have another round of crisis, so be it. In that congress, Chief Dan Orbih emerged as the National Vice Chairman. If they don’t agree, that’s another round of crisis,” Wike declared.
He also rejected the zoning arrangements supervised by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, further heightening tensions.
Wike, who now serves in President Bola Tinubu’s APC cabinet, has been repeatedly accused of anti-party activities, which he denies. His fallout with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, a former ally in the G5 bloc, has deepened the cracks within the PDP, raising concerns as the Ibadan convention approaches.
