The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), struggling with internal divisions and an identity crisis post-2023, faces another challenge as a public exchange of accusations between Chief Olabode George and Nyesom Wike lays bare a deepening rift that could jeopardise the party’s prospects for 2027.
In an interview yesterday, Wike launched a scathing attack on the member of the PDP Board of Trustees, accusing him of leaving “nothing to show” for the various positions he (George) has held over the years. The former Rivers governor implied that George had become a spent force within the PDP, contributing little to its relevance or structure.
In a swift rebuttal, George fired back, describing Wike’s comments as not only “unfounded” but also reflective of his “political immaturity and historical ignorance.”
According to George, Wike lacks the institutional knowledge to appreciate the groundwork laid by founding PDP members, particularly in the South-West, a region where George played a key role in party building and electoral strategy.
“Wike is too young in the party to know what we did to build this structure. The foundation of PDP in the South-West, the stability we had—I was part of that. He should not throw stones when he does not understand the house,” George said.
Despite their personal animosity, both men agree on one major issue: the need to zone the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South. George described it as a matter of equity and federal character, especially given the North’s recent dominance under Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy in 2019 and 2023.
However, George faulted Wike’s aggressive posture in pushing the zoning debate, warning that the minister’s approach could alienate stakeholders rather than build consensus. “There’s a way to fight for justice without destroying the house. Wike’s method is combative and could end up being counterproductive,” he said.
The zoning issue is at the heart of the PDP’s post-2023 crisis. The refusal of the party’s leadership to zone the 2023 ticket to the South fractured the party, giving rise to the G-5 governors’ rebellion, spearheaded by Wike, and weakening the opposition’s showing at the polls.
George was emphatic in blaming former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu for the party’s electoral misfortunes. “They ignored wise counsel. They rode roughshod over our constitution and internal zoning arrangement. That’s why the house collapsed,” he said.
Indeed, Ayu’s refusal to step down after Atiku emerged as presidential candidate, despite the widespread southern agitation for regional balance, proved toxic for party unity. The decision drove a wedge between the leadership and key stakeholders, especially in the South.
Another contentious issue further dividing the party is the national secretaryship. Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who left the position to contest the Imo State governorship election in 2023, has returned to reclaim the seat—a move George described as “a constitutional aberration.”
“You cannot abandon your office, contest a governorship election, lose, and return to take up your former seat as if nothing happened. It sets a dangerous precedent,” he said, expressing shock that Wike would support such an “illegal manoeuvre.”
The controversy has drawn legal and political challenges from other South-East PDP leaders, particularly from Abia State, which believes it should nominate the next secretary based on internal zoning arrangements within the zone.
To address these multiple crises, the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) recently inaugurated a Convention Planning Committee to manage leadership transitions and review zoning formulas ahead of the 2027 elections. However, even this move has failed to inspire widespread confidence.
George expressed scepticism, warning that unless due process and inclusivity are ensured, the committee could worsen tensions. “What we need now is caution. This is not the time for impunity or rubber-stamped decisions. The party must listen to the grassroots and elders,” he said.
The PDP, once the largest political party in Africa, has suffered a series of debilitating losses since its fall from power in 2015. The 2023 elections exposed further cracks, including defections, court-ordered congress reversals, and a credibility deficit among the youth and civil society.
For the PDP to survive, George said the party must urgently reform its internal processes, enforce discipline, and restore faith in its zoning agreement and internal democracy.
Wike rebukes George over comments on PDP’s unpaid ground rent
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, criticised Bode George for suggesting that Wike should have settled the party’s unpaid ground rent to demonstrate his loyalty.
George, speaking last Tuesday, said the payment of the debt, which led to the sealing of the PDP’s national secretariat, would have showcased Wike’s commitment as a significant beneficiary of the party.
However, during Wike’s interview, he dismissed the suggestion, stating that neither he nor George could pay the debt as it was not in their names. He also alleged that George himself owes the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
“I read what he said. If an old man has no job, sit down in your house and read newspapers,” Wike remarked. He acknowledged the role of the PDP in his political rise, saying, “Bode George said the PDP made me, and PDP gave me a national name. I agree. A party cannot make you; you are the one that will make the party popular to win an election.”
Wike contrasted his contributions to the PDP with George’s, asserting that while he had worked tirelessly to ensure the party’s dominance in Rivers State and at the national level, the same could not be said for Lagos, George’s political base.
“Ask Bode George, ‘Who did the PDP make in Lagos since 1999?’ Not anyone. Meanwhile, in your state, the party every day is crying, complaining from 1999. Even when we were in power, we knew what we did to try to make sure PDP took over Lagos. It didn’t work; even when Jonathan came, it didn’t work,” Wike said.
George, in his remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on May 29, 2025, had expressed disappointment over Wike’s role in the FCTA’s actions, saying:
“What is N7 million? He should have just said to them, ‘Okay, N7 million, I’ll pay from my pocket. Take the receipt back to the party’s secretariat. You see, you people are foolish.’
“‘I’m completely committed to this house; I am completely loyal to this house. I will not decimate it. This is the receipt, give me back my money.’ That is what you call a true son of that family,” George added.
Wike denounces alleged plot to remove PDP national secretary, vows to stay in party
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has criticised what he described as an illegal and politically motivated attempt to remove the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Wike also firmly declared that no amount of pressure would push him out of the party he has long supported and helped build.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing, Wike accused some party leaders of orchestrating a crisis to oust the National Secretary, emphasising that Anyanwu was democratically elected at a national convention, not appointed.
“You cannot just wake up and say a National Secretary should go. Who gave that order?” Wike asked. “He was elected, not appointed. So if someone is to leave, it should be those who believe in impunity, not someone elected by the entire party.”
Wike linked the controversy to broader efforts within the PDP to sideline him and distort internal agreements previously reached among key stakeholders. He recounted meetings in Lagos, at his Abuja residence, and at the home of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, where consensus was supposedly reached to maintain unity within the party’s leadership ranks.
“Those same individuals who were part of these agreements later turned around to undermine them for personal political gains. What kind of politics is that?” Wike questioned.
Visibly agitated, Wike warned against what he called manipulations by “undertakers” within the party. “This impunity and injustice will not stand. PDP is not anyone’s personal property. I will continue to speak the truth,” he said.
Addressing calls for his exit from the PDP, Wike was emphatic. “I am not the one to leave the party. If you’re uncomfortable with truth, principles, and justice, then you leave. I won’t,” he stated.
The minister criticised the constitutionality of the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which reportedly discussed Anyanwu’s removal. He argued that no valid notice was issued by the Secretary himself, as required by party rules. “They claimed there was a NEC meeting, but who issued the notice? The Secretary didn’t. Under our party constitution, he is the only one who can do that,” Wike explained.
He said attempts to remove Anyanwu without due process amounted to a disregard for the rule of law. “The Secretary is not dead, not sick. He hasn’t resigned. So, why try to push him out? If you’re doing that, then you’re killing the very soul of the PDP,” Wike warned.
Wike also criticised the PDP’s declining influence in its South-South strongholds, citing Delta and Akwa Ibom as examples. He blamed the leadership for failing to address intelligence about waning support in these areas.
“You had intelligence that Delta was slipping, Akwa Ibom too. What did you do? Nothing. Instead of engaging, you said, ‘Let them go.’ That’s not how an opposition party survives,” he stated.
…Defends support for Tinubu, denies being liability to PDP
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defended his continued support for President Bola Tinubu while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He insisted he is an asset to the party and the nation’s political structure.
“I am not a liability. I am an asset. Whether you agree or not, whether you like me or not, it doesn’t matter. I am an asset to this country’s political structure,” Wike said during his media chat.
Wike also dismissed allegations that he is fuelling a crisis in Rivers State or working against the state’s Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. He expressed frustration over being vilified by those he once supported.
“There’s no crisis from my side. I gave my all — support, resources, everything — to ensure success, and what do I get in return? Betrayal. It’s like raising a son who turns around to shoot you,” he said, speaking in a personal tone.
The minister accused some within the PDP of engaging in deceit and manipulation, urging transparency. “Let the public know what’s going on. Deny what I said, not insult me. That’s what matters. You don’t protect a party by covering up lies. You protect it by standing on truth,” he said.
Wike warned against arbitrary decisions and political impunity within the party, vowing to fight for its survival. “This party will not die. Not on our watch. We’ll fight to keep it alive, and no one — I repeat, no one — can force me out of it,” he declared.
Social critic accuses Wike of extravagant spending on media chats
A social critic, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of spending hundreds of millions of naira monthly on what he described as an ostentatious media chat.
Ejiofor argued that such an exercise, aside from offering little or no substance, reflects misplaced priorities at a time when many Nigerians face harsh economic realities.
In a press statement, the former lead lawyer for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) said it is regrettable that as millions of Nigerians grapple with record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty, Wike is engaging in what he termed an unnecessary extravagance.
The statement, titled ‘Extravagance in a time of hardship – President Tinubu must curb FCT Minister Wike’s costly media show,’ described the monthly broadcast as “a tone-deaf misuse of public funds,” especially in a country where many citizens survive on less than $2 per day and access to basic healthcare, education, and shelter remains a struggle.
Ejiofor highlighted the potential impact of reallocating the funds used for these media chats. “The cost of one media edition could fund emergency relief and shelter for thousands displaced by the recent floods in Niger State. It could refurbish crumbling primary schools, equip rural clinics, or sustain nutrition programs in IDP camps for several months,” he said.
He further criticised the optics and implications of such spending. “Nigerians are not asking for a televised circus – Nigerians are crying out for competent governance, prudent spending, and people-centred leadership,” Ejiofor stated.
Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, Ejiofor urged the administration to rein in the FCT Minister’s spending and redirect focus to service delivery. “This is not a time for flamboyance and fanfare. It is a moment that demands humility, responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Nigeria deserves better. The time to act is now,” he concluded.
