The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors forum, which convened Sunday night to discuss and canvass support for the decisions it took at its last meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, may have run into trouble with the sudden arrival of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike.
A key agenda of the meeting, it was learnt, was to galvanise support for its decisions taken at its last meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital
The meeting barely began when Wike arrived at the meeting venue in his black G-Wagon, dressed in a black jalabiya and a white cap.
He walked straight into the meeting hall at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja to join governors, former governors, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) who had arrived earlier for the meeting.
At its April 14, 2025, meeting, the PDP Governors Forum resolved, among others, that it would not support the idea of forming a coalition against the ruling party in the 2027 election.
The governors said that as a major opposition party, the PDP would welcome any party, association, or group willing to join it, to wrest power and enthrone good leadership in 2027.
Shortly after the Ibadan meeting, Wike granted an interview in which he openly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
At the meeting Sunday night were the Governors of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke; Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang; Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; and Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.
Others are the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Also in attendance are PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum; Secretary of the Board of Trustees and a former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; a former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; and a former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and a former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
Others include: a former Kwara State Governor and a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, a former Niger State Governor, Babangida Muazu, a former Bauchi State Governor, Adamu Muazu, a former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and a former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel.
Chairman of the forum, Bala Mohammed, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said,:
“The meeting “it is an opportunity to close ranks, and to make sure that at least there is no ill feelings, there are no qualms, there are no misgivings between the leaders of the party.
“Governors of the party have reached out to our colleagues who have been there before, who have more in-depth experience, and whatever suggestions or opinions they may have, will go a long way in giving an added impetus to the actualization of our NEC, and our convention that is scheduled to take place on specific days, and of course to reassure our teaming supporters that the PDP is working, the PDP is united.”
He admitted that “there are some missing gaps here and there. We set up a committee of seven, headed by His Excellency, the former Senate President, and of course former Governor of Kwara State, to make sure that at least quick reconciliation and reach out will be made, in such a manner that we will have a very rancour free and harmonious NEC and convention.”
On the defection issue hitting the party, he said, “Well, this is some of the manifestations in a democratic set-up like this that we have, and this is what is forcing us to come together. Rather than diminishing and weakening, it is making us stronger, and we will make sure that at least those chapters where we have history, where we have structure, are not left alone.
“They will be able to produce the next governors of the PDP by the grace of God, because we will be providing the level playing field in the next convention that is coming up.”
