Wike Declares Keen Interest in Oyo PDP Affairs, Vows to Defend Party from ‘Internal Vampires’ Amid Deepening Rift with Makinde

The ongoing political tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Monday night as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, openly declared his interest in the activities of the party’s Oyo State chapter, further escalating his rift with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Speaking at the PDP’s 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, emphasized his commitment to the survival and success of the PDP while pledging to shield it from what he termed “internal vampires” seeking to undermine the party’s unity. He made it clear that his focus on Oyo PDP was part of a broader effort to stabilize the party nationally.

“Let me declare my interest clearly: I am interested in the survival and success of this party. I am also interested in all the happenings in Oyo State PDP. That is all I am interested in,” Wike stated during his address to party leaders and stakeholders.

The declaration comes against the backdrop of a fractured alliance between Wike and Makinde, who were once key members of the influential G5 governors’ group ahead of the 2023 general elections. The group, which included other PDP governors, had pushed for power shift and internal reforms but disintegrated post-elections, leading to sustained power struggles within the party. As earlier reported by NaijaChoice News, the fallout intensified last year when Makinde accused Wike of promising to “hold down” the PDP for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, a claim Wike has denied.

Wike, in his speech, dismissed any notion that his stance was meant to intimidate factions within the party, insisting that recent court rulings have solidified the position of the PDP’s current leadership under the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Caretaker Committee. “The legal battle has collapsed. They have no option but to recognise the Caretaker Committee,” he asserted.

He accused certain members of attempting to hijack the PDP across the 36 states and the FCT for personal gains, likening them to “vampires” feeding on the party’s divisions. “We are waiting for the Caretaker Committee to give direction on the next steps, especially to ensure that congresses already due are conducted, after which we move to the National Convention,” Wike added, signaling a push towards the party’s elective national convention slated for March 28–29, 2026.

The FCT Minister also urged PDP members to eschew a “charity mentality” in politics, advocating for grassroots mobilization rather than reliance on sitting governors. “Go to the wards. Go to the polling units. Go to the grassroots. Forget the idea that this is a charity organisation,” he advised. “Some people believe that if you do not have a sitting governor, then you are nothing. Who told them that? I was not a governor when I became governor.”

While acknowledging calls for peace from the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC), Wike cautioned against complacency. “Yes, the BoT has appealed for peace. Yes, the NWC has appealed for peace. That is their responsibility. But those of us following the process must be extremely careful,” he warned. “They will not give up until they believe you are destroyed. But I will not be destroyed. You will not be destroyed. Let us move forward.”

In a swift response on Tuesday during the unveiling of the Oyo State PDP secretariat in Ibadan, Governor Makinde fired back, describing Wike as a “vagabond” who emerged prominently in 2015 and was expelled from the party in 2025. “Nyesom Wike is a vagabond who surfaced fully in 2015 and was expelled in 2025. Ask him what he has done with the PDP in Rivers State to now have an interest in Oyo PDP,” Makinde said, in what appears to be a direct rebuttal to Wike’s declarations.

Makinde further asserted that there are “no more vagabonds” in the PDP, emphasizing that such elements have been weeded out, allowing the party to focus on rebuilding. This exchange has heightened tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, with analysts warning that the rift could threaten the PDP’s cohesion in the South-West and beyond.

Despite the internal wrangling, Wike maintained that the PDP remains a formidable force, urging members to leverage their collective experience to surmount challenges. The NEC meeting also highlighted the party’s “testing and refining” period in 2025, marked by judicial and institutional hurdles, as noted by factional Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed.