Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has distanced himself from the heated rhetoric surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis, insisting he will not descend into personal attacks against those opposing the party’s planned national convention.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Thursday after the PDP Southern Zonal Consultative Meeting, Makinde was asked about the position of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his allies who have rejected the November convention.
“Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are not going into the gutters, and we will reach out to them. That is democracy,” the governor said.
Makinde stressed that disagreements within the party should not become personal battles but should focus on the interests of Nigerians.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It is about what we are offering Nigerians, because they are watching,” he added.
The governor pointed to PDP’s performance in recent elections, noting that the party remained a strong contender.
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most of the 12 states, PDP came second. This is an indication that if we keep working hard, we can regain the trust of Nigerians,” he said.
Wike’s Objection
Earlier in the week, Wike had warned that the party risked another crisis if it failed to recognise the zonal congress that produced Chief Dan Orbih as National Vice Chairman, South-South.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike declared:
“Our congress was held in Calabar, and Chief Dan Orbih emerged as the National Vice Chairman. If they refuse to acknowledge it, that’s another round of crisis.”
He also rejected plans for the PDP’s national convention, scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, saying the National Executive Committee (NEC) had not approved it.
“As a NEC member, nobody has informed me of any such decision. If a few people gather to make pronouncements, that cannot pass for NEC,” Wike stated.
Background
The PDP had earlier announced a 110-member organising committee for the convention, which is expected to shape the future of the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
