The PDP Drama Continues: Wike’s Demands Just Threw Fuel on the Fire.

By: Abudu Olalekan

The PDP Drama Continues with Wike camp demand. Just when you thought the drama had settled, a fresh fire has started burning. And this time, it’s a full-on showdown between the party’s top brass and the heavyweight FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his loyal crew. It’s a clash of titans, and it’s all about the upcoming National Convention.

The scene was set in Abuja on Tuesday. You could feel the tension in the air. The governors, looking unified for once, gathered to inaugurate the planning committee for the November 15-16 convention. The venue? Ibadan, Oyo State. This isn’t just a regular meeting; it’s a defiant statement. They’re saying, “We are doing this. Full stop.”

And leading the charge was Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. He’s the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, and he did not mince words. He spoke for all of them, a clear and forceful message sent directly to Wike’s camp. He said, and you have to get this, “We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody.” Boom. Just like that. The gloves are off.

He went on, his voice probably getting louder with every word. He said they will not tolerate this arrogance. This impunity. He even called Wike’s faction a “faction of fools.” Can you believe it? The language is raw, unfiltered, just what you would expect when political battles get this personal. Mohammed was basically saying, “Enough is enough. We won’t be taken for a ride anymore.” He painted a picture of the governors refusing to be led to the “slaughterhouse.” It’s a battle for the soul of the party, and they’re prepared to fight.

This whole mess started on Monday night. Wike and his group, who call themselves the “Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders,” held a meeting of their own. A nearly three-hour marathon of grievances. Afterward, they issued a communiqué, a list of demands that was less a suggestion and more an ultimatum. Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, read it out. They were saying, look, if you don’t do these things, this whole convention will be “invalid.” Can you imagine the audacity?

Their demands were pretty specific. First, they want a ban on what they call “micro-zoning.” They’re okay with the broad zoning, you know, North and South. But they want to keep the National Chairman in the North-Central, which is where it was zoned in 2021. So, basically, they’re saying no one from another region should even try for the top job. It’s about control, plain and simple.

But that’s not all. They also want fresh, transparent congresses in a bunch of places: Ebonyi and Anambra states, the entire South-East zone, and even a local government congress in Ekiti. And they want the outcome of the South-South Congress in Calabar to be respected. It’s a laundry list of local disputes all rolled into one national crisis. They’re using these issues to stall the whole thing. It’s a power move. A classic play from the political playbook.

But the party’s leadership isn’t backing down. Not for a second. Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum stood his ground. He spoke about his time in charge, how he’s been patient and tolerant. He said he chose restraint not because he was weak, but for the party’s stability. He looked at the destructive voices and said history will prove he did a remarkable job. And he had a message for everyone: “The PDP is not broken. The PDP is not defeated. The PDP is marching forward.” He called the November convention “sacrosanct.” No room for negotiation there.

It’s not just the big names. The people on the ground are feeling it, too. Michael Ogunsina, the Publicity Secretary for the Oyo State PDP, spoke and was just as blunt. He called the convention a “done deal,” something no force could stop. He went even further, saying it would be the moment to “send packing” all the “satanic infiltrations.” That’s a bold statement right there. It shows how deeply personal this fight has become for so many members.

And then you have others like Ibrahim Tsauri, a former National Secretary. He didn’t hold back either. He went straight to the heart of the matter, alleging that Wike is just doing President Bola Tinubu’s bidding. He said Wike is “working for the President to destroy the party.” Strong words that hint at a bigger conspiracy. He said his only fear is the judiciary, that they might get involved and mess things up. It’s a common fear in Nigerian politics, isn’t it? The courts becoming another battlefield.

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, also chimed in. He basically told Wike’s guys to get ready to participate or “close their eyes.” He was firm. He said the party’s interests must come before any personal ambition. He questioned what Wike was really trying to do with these demands. It’s almost like a dad telling his kids to stop fighting and just get on with it.

Even the Bauchi State chapter of the PDP called the whole thing the “ranting of an ant.” Dayyabu Ciroma, their publicity secretary, said Wike’s loyalists should have channeled their complaints to the NEC, not a public communiqué. It’s like they’re telling them to stop making a spectacle of themselves.

So, here we are. The PDP, a party that has a long history of internal squabbles, finds itself at another critical moment. The governors are united. The national leadership is firm. Wike and his group are standing their ground with a list of demands they say are non-negotiable. It’s a classic standoff. Will the party hold its nerve and go ahead with the convention? Or will Wike’s threats force a last-minute change? The next few weeks are going to be wild. And whatever happens, you can be sure this fight for the PDP’s future is far from over.