The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned party members across the country to stay away from the planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The group said the gathering had been rendered illegal by a new court order linked to a suit filed by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido. The development marks another twist in the ongoing internal crisis within the opposition party, as different camps continue to battle for control of the party’s leadership and direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the Wike faction, the Acting National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said the court ruling obtained on Tuesday made it impossible for the Ibadan convention to proceed legitimately.
According to Osadolor, the event “lacks any legal or organisational foundation” and should therefore be avoided by all genuine members of the party.
“Well, I’ve told you before. What they are doing in Ibadan is just an early Christmas party. But again, even the early Christmas parties are still not going to hold,” Osadolor said in a statement shared with journalists.
He explained that the recent court pronouncement had thrown more confusion into the PDP’s already troubled situation.
“I’m sure you are aware of the court pronouncements from the suit filed by former governor Sule Lamido earlier today. That has also told them that the early Christmas party is not even properly constituted and organised,” he added.
The youth leader urged members of the PDP across Nigeria not to waste their time, energy, or money attending what he called an “unlawful and meaningless exercise.”
The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant political party, has been facing deep internal divisions since it lost the presidency to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. Over the years, disagreements over leadership positions, zoning of political offices, and control of party structures have created multiple factions within the party.
Nyesom Wike, the current FCT Minister and former Governor of Rivers State, has been at the centre of many of these disputes. He leads a powerful bloc within the PDP known as the “Integrity Group” or “G-5,” made up of five former governors who openly opposed the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The group had argued that it was unfair for the PDP to field another northern presidential candidate after eight years of a northern presidency under Muhammadu Buhari. Their disagreement with the party leadership led to a major split during the 2023 election campaign, weakening the PDP’s chances at the polls.
Since then, efforts to reconcile the warring factions have repeatedly failed, and the party has continued to operate under internal tension.
The planned PDP national convention in Ibadan was expected to bring together delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to discuss key issues, including leadership renewal and party reforms.
However, the Wike faction insists that the process leading to the convention is flawed and that the party’s internal disputes must first be resolved before any national gathering can take place.
Party insiders say the court case filed by Sule Lamido challenges the legality of some decisions made by the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), including those relating to the convention. The suit reportedly seeks clarification on the tenure and authority of certain officials whose mandates may have expired or been contested.
The Wike camp now argues that until those matters are fully settled, any convention would violate existing court orders and expose the party to further legal troubles.
The warning from Wike’s faction comes at a time when the PDP is struggling to reposition itself as a strong opposition party to President Bola Tinubu’s administration. With the 2027 elections still two years away, analysts say the continued infighting could weaken the party’s ability to present a united front.
Wike’s growing influence both within the PDP and through his current role in the federal government — has created confusion about his loyalty and intentions. While he remains a PDP member, his appointment by President Tinubu, who belongs to the APC, has made many in the party question where his true allegiance lies.
Some PDP leaders accuse him of working with the ruling party to destabilise the opposition, while his supporters say he is simply fighting to restore discipline and fairness in the PDP’s internal processes.
Meanwhile, several senior members of the PDP have appealed for calm and urged both factions to return to the negotiation table. They say continued division will only damage the party’s reputation and reduce its chances of returning to power in future elections.
A former national officer of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the crisis was a test of leadership. “We need to remember that this party once united Nigerians. We can only win again if we stay together. The courts should not be the ones deciding the future of the PDP,” he said.
As of Wednesday evening, organizers of the Ibadan convention had not made any official statement in response to the Wike faction’s warning. However, sources within the PDP said preparations for the event were still ongoing, despite the legal uncertainty.
It remains unclear whether the court order cited by the Wike bloc will actually stop the convention or if the main PDP leadership will proceed regardless.
