Wike’s Faction of PDP Disowns Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde, Bode George, Tanimu Turaki, Arapaja, Others

A fresh wave of internal crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has formally distanced itself from the camp of prominent party leaders including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Deputy National Chairman (South) Chief Bode George, former Minister Tanimu Turaki, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, and several others.

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The development, sources within the party confirmed, marks a significant escalation in the battle for control of the PDP ahead of the 2026 and 2027 electoral cycles, raising concerns about the party’s ability to present a united front in the coming months.

According to insiders, the Wike-led bloc convened a strategic meeting in Abuja where it reportedly resolved to publicly dissociate from leaders it accused of engaging in “anti-party tendencies,” undermining internal reconciliation efforts, and allegedly working with external interests to weaken the party from within. Though no official communiqué was released, senior figures aligned with Wike confirmed that the decision was reached unanimously.

The rift, however, did not emerge overnight. Tensions have been brewing for months following disagreements over the composition of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), zoning of leadership positions, and conflicting interests in state structures, particularly in Oyo, Bauchi, Lagos, Osun, Rivers, and the Southwest geopolitical zone. What had been simmering quietly now appears to have burst into full public view.

Officials in the Wike camp accuse Governor Bala Mohammed of pursuing a personal agenda at the expense of the party’s collective interest. They allege that the Bauchi governor’s approach to national party matters is influenced more by 2027 calculations than present realities. The disagreement peaked after Bala Mohammed’s recent statements urging unity in the party—remarks which Wike’s allies interpreted as an attempt to sideline their concerns and consolidate his influence ahead of the next national convention.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, a long-time ally of Wike during the 2023 election crisis, has also fallen out of favour with the FCT Minister’s faction. Sources say the split widened due to disagreements over Southwest PDP leadership and Makinde’s alleged quiet support for leaders perceived as hostile to Wike. The Wike group is reportedly displeased with Makinde’s recent moves to realign himself with the Ahmed Makarfi–Bode George tendency in Lagos and the Southwest, a shift they consider a direct challenge.

Chief Bode George, a respected party elder and influential voice in Southwest politics, is said to have drawn the ire of the Wike faction for what they call his “overbearing interference” and “persistent criticism” of Wike’s role in national politics and PDP affairs. George, who recently reaffirmed his commitment to internal reform and rebuilding the party, has frequently warned against what he describes as “overcentralization of power” within the PDP—a position viewed as indirectly targeting Wike and his allies.

Similarly, former minister Tanimu Turaki and the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, were listed among the leaders the Wike bloc has disowned. The group accuses them of aligning with forces pushing for a total restructuring of the party, a move that could clip Wike’s influence at both national and state levels. Arapaja’s stance on recent Southwest PDP controversies, particularly regarding harmonization of party executives, reportedly fueled the fracture.

Though the Wike faction has not formally communicated its position to the National Working Committee, insiders say the message has been quietly relayed through party channels. The NWC, already battling credibility issues after years of internal turmoil, is said to be deeply worried about the widening schism, especially with major elections drawing closer. Multiple attempts at reconciliation have yielded little progress as both camps accuse each other of insincerity and sabotage.

Political analysts warn that the latest division could further weaken the PDP’s already fragile national structure, which has struggled to regain cohesion since the contentious 2023 elections. The party’s historical strength in states like Rivers, Oyo, Lagos, and Bauchi—now divided by factional loyalties—risks erosion unless urgent steps are taken to rebuild trust.

The Wike faction, however, insists that its decision is necessary to “protect the soul of the party” from what it describes as “opportunists masking as reformers.” They argue that the PDP can only move forward if “those who betray collective decisions and undermine agreed strategies” are isolated.

As the crisis deepens, the party leadership faces mounting pressure to intervene decisively. Whether through negotiation, sanctions, or a major restructuring of the party hierarchy, stakeholders agree that the PDP must find a way to reconcile the camps—or risk entering the 2027 elections dangerously fragmented.

For now, the line has been drawn, and the Wike faction appears determined to assert control. What remains unclear is whether the other leaders will respond in kind, or whether this marks the beginning of a broader realignment within Nigeria’s largest opposition party.