Don’t Derail Our Convention, PDP Govs Issue Stern Warning to Wike

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has issued a strong warning to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and other dissenting members against actions that could disrupt the party’s upcoming national convention.

The warning was contained in a communiqué released after the Forum’s 7th meeting, held on Saturday in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.

The governors unanimously reaffirmed their support for the resolutions made by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in July, which confirmed the convention would be held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, 2025.

Chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the Forum described the PDP as “the only democratic institution and viable alternative” for Nigeria and urged members to resist attempts by “anti-party forces” to derail the crucial event.

The communiqué also commended the party’s resilience in the face of recent defections, asserting that such moves would not damage the PDP’s grassroots support.

The governors further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “divisive governance” and policies causing widespread hardship.

This stern message appears directed squarely at Nyesom Wike, who has publicly criticized the party’s leadership.

Earlier in the week on a television programme, Wike expressed dissatisfaction with a recently constituted South-South Caretaker Committee and the retention of a specific official. He insisted that his ally, Dan Orbih, is the legitimate National Vice Chairman for the South-South zone, threatening a “fresh crisis” if the party refuses to acknowledge the zonal congress that elected him.

Wike has also rejected the convention’s zoning committee, led by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri.

His political rift with former ally and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has also deepened, with many PDP members accusing Wike, who serves in the APC-led federal cabinet, of anti-party activities—a claim he denies.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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