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| Wike urges PDP unity after Calabar vote |
Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, said the PDP’s internal feud has eased for now after key disputes around its south-south zonal congress in Calabar. He warned one demand must hold to keep calm: respect that zonal vote and court ruling.
Wike spoke in Abuja on Monday, noting some party leaders tried to undo a congress that picked Dan Orbih as south-south vice chairman. A court backed that vote, but an acting chairman wrote to INEC to pause it days later.
He said the Calabar meeting “must stand,” with no wiggle room. If anyone seeks fresh trouble, Wike said the party will face it. That stance helped calm rows after governors and state executives clashed over legal terms.
This peace deal follows months of legal fights and bruised alliances. Since May, Wike and Oyo governor Seyi Makinde traded barbs over top slots and court challenges. Their split shook the PDP’s bid to present a united front against the ruling party.
Atiku Abubakar’s name hovered over tensions. His 2023 ticket quest fueled rival camps jockeying for power. Some members blamed him for blocking deals. Others said Wike overplayed his hand. That tug of war fueled court cases and public rows.
Wike said he won’t quit the PDP. He praised veterans who’ve kept faith and warned against “vampires” aiming to hollow out the party. He urged colleagues to back the south-south vote to seal the truce.
The minister asked the National Working Committee to drop lawsuits against Rivers State. He said legal fights cost money and trust. Clearing those cases will free resources for next year’s convention and for fielding candidates in 2027.
He also called on All Progressives Congress defectors to stay away from PDP dealings. Wike warned that party doors remain open, but only for those ready to play by its rules and processes laid out in Abuja.
Several NEC members quietly backed Wike’s call. They believe upholding a single zonal congress can show the PDP can follow its own guidelines. That gesture may help rebuild voter trust after controversies over primary elections and funding.
Party insiders say the next weeks are crucial. State chapters must clear lists of aspirants and pick genuine delegates. Any fresh tussle over delegates or court orders could reopen wounds. Many hope Wike’s hard line holds until the national convention.
Political analysts note that wounded parties often heal around shared threats. The APC’s dominance and looming elections may push PDP rivals back together. But they caution that a single demand won’t fix deeper issues of trust and patronage.
IGP and security chiefs are watching too. They worry repeated court battles can fuel street clashes among party youth. A lasting pause now could help avoid violence that erupted during past primaries in Rivers and Oyo.
Grassroots supporters in Lagos, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom cheered news of calm. Shop owners said they feared protests near party offices might scare customers away. Community leaders hope this truce lets them focus on campaigns, not court hearings.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Some state chairmen quietly wonder if Wike’s demand will hand too much power to a few figures close to him. They call for wider reforms—like open primaries and funding transparency—to truly end infighting.
Wike said he welcomes ideas, but only after the Calabar decision stands. He offered to meet dissenting voices personally, one by one, to hear concerns and bring them into the fold. That hands-on style helped him broker past deals in Rivers State.
He warned that anyone who breaches the peace will face party discipline. That could mean suspension or loss of ticket rights. Wike pledged to use his influence to back neutral caretakers in zones still unsettled.
As the PDP edges toward its convention, members will watch court filings and INEC letters closely. Any new move to block congress results could spark fresh conflict. For now, Wike’s bold call for unity has bought a pause in a crisis that once threatened to tear the party apart.
Get ready for more hearings, zoning talks, and state congresses. If the Calabar vote holds, it may set a pattern for handling disputes. But if it falls, PDP risks tumbling back into chaos, and handing APC another easy win in 2027.