Ahead of the 2027 general elections, key stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have intensified consultations as reconciliation efforts between rival factions appear stalled.
PDP governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) recently met with Senator Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential aspirant in 2023. The meetings come amid ongoing divisions within the PDP, particularly between the governors’ bloc and the faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
On Sunday, Makinde and Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors Forum, held a closed-door session with Senator Dickson in Bauchi. The duo later traveled with Dickson to Kano, where they joined Kwankwaso and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. While the gathering was officially described as part of Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, sources close to Kwankwaso indicated that the discussions were likely tied to preparations for the 2027 presidential race.
Meanwhile, internal tensions in the PDP continue to escalate. Jungudo Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-backed PDP National Caretaker Working Committee, accused the governors’ camp, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), of attempting to undermine the party’s upcoming national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30. In response, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for the Turaki-aligned group, dismissed the allegations as blackmail, insisting that his camp remained committed to party reconciliation.
The PDP has been beset by internal strife for nearly a year, resulting in the emergence of two rival factions. The governors’ group held a convention in Ibadan on November 16, 2023, electing Turaki and others to the National Working Committee (NWC). The Wike faction countered in December by establishing a 13-member Caretaker Committee, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to run party affairs for 60 days pending a full convention.
Legal battles followed. On March 9, a Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma upheld a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the Ibadan convention and the election of Turaki and his team, citing violations of the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Constitution. However, another appellate panel in Ibadan, headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill, encouraged both sides to seek out-of-court settlements.
Despite both factions signaling willingness to reconcile in recent weeks, ongoing disputes and public statements suggest peace efforts may have reached an impasse. When asked if the governors’ bloc had conceded to Wike’s camp, Makinde argued that any collaboration with Wike equated to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ambitions in 2027, a move he said contradicted PDP’s interests.
Makinde stated:
I have publicly confirmed attending a meeting with Wike and Mr President, where Wike promised to secure the PDP for Mr President in 2027. Anyone working with Wike is, in effect, supporting President Tinubu. We’re not begrudging their choice, but they should be clear about whom they support. While they have the backing of government institutions, we have the people behind us.
Mohammed, speaking for the Wike group, reiterated the need for reconciliation, emphasizing that political disagreements should not be allowed to fester and that efforts at conflict resolution were ongoing.
Shortly after the Bauchi meeting, Makinde and Dickson arrived in Kano for the 10th annual Dandalin Kwankwasiyya, an event hosted by Kwankwaso which gathered political stakeholders and supporters nationwide. According to sources, the meeting doubled as a platform for high-level consultations and alliance-building ahead of 2027.
The source noted:
Given the restrictions in the Electoral Act and shifting political timelines, these meetings — though coinciding with Eid-el-Fitr — are part of ongoing consultations for the 2027 elections. The presence of top PDP and opposition figures signals discussions around political alignments and future strategies.
Meanwhile, Jungudo Mohammed, spokesperson for the Wike-backed committee, insisted that the party’s national convention would proceed as scheduled, affirming that recent court judgments had legitimized the Caretaker Committee’s authority. He called on the judiciary to be vigilant against attempts to derail the party’s activities through legal maneuvers, stating, we reaffirm our confidence in the judiciary and assure our members that the National Convention will go ahead as planned, with all arrangements in place for a successful and credible event.
On the other hand, Ememobong, the Turaki camp’s spokesperson, dismissed the Wike group’s accusations as unfounded, stating in an interview:
It’s unfortunate that those who should act responsibly are resorting to blackmail. From the outset, we have been open to reconciliation, but their side continues to avoid meaningful engagement. If they claim knowledge of court cases yet to be filed, it suggests they are the ones orchestrating such moves.
Ememobong maintained optimism about reconciliation, urging the Wike group to prioritize dialogue over divisive actions.
