A deepening rift between the camp of former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, over disputed dates for state congresses has thrown the Peoples Democratic Party into fresh turmoil, raising fears that the crisis could undermine the party’s forthcoming national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In separate letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the acting National Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum, backed by Governor Makinde announced the postponement of the state congresses in Cross River, Kebbi, and Plateau.
However, in a counter letter, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a strong ally of Nyesom Wike, insisted that the congresses in the three states would still hold on Saturday, September 27, as earlier scheduled.
At its 101st NEC meeting on July 24, the PDP had resolved to restructure and reposition itself by holding a National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, where 19 new members of the National Working Committee will be elected.
But Wike, displeased with the South-South Caretaker Committee constituted by the NWC, warned that the non-recognition of Chief Dan Orbih’s election as National Vice Chairman (South-South) could spell a major setback for the party.
While the crisis appeared to have been temporarily contained, Wike cautioned that further conflict was inevitable if Orbih’s mandate is ignored.
The decision by the PDP leadership to conduct congresses in Plateau, Kebbi, and Cross River in order to generate delegates for the forthcoming convention has reignited the rivalry between the Wike and Makinde camps.
In a letter dated September 25, received by the commission on September 26, Damagum revealed that the congresses in the three states had been postponed.
The letter titled, ‘Re: Notice of the 2025 Party Congresses in 12 state chapters of the PDP pursuant to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Postponement of State Congress in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States” indicated, through Damagum, that a new date will be announced later.
It read in part, “Please refer to our letter on the above subject with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1M/25-090 dated Monday, July 07, 2025, in which we informed the Commission of Year 2025 Party Congresses In Twelve (12) States for the purpose of electing New Party Executives.
“However, due to unforeseen circumstances and operational logistic challenges, the National Working Committee of our great Party hereby postpones the State congresses in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025.
“What this means is that State Congresses in the Three (3) aforementioned States will not hold as earlier scheduled. A new date will be communicated to the Commission in due course.
“The Commission should note that this is for information purposes and not a Notice of Congress. We shall formally notify the Commission pursuant to section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, once a new date is fixed.
“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter and please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
In a letter dated September 26, which was also received by the INEC chairman on the same day and titled, ‘Re: Notice of Year 2025 Party Congresses in Twelve (12) State Chapters of the PDP pursuant to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Confirmation of State Congress in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States,” Anyanwu confirmed that the congresses would proceed as scheduled.
The letter read in part, “Please refer to our letter on the above subject with Ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1/25-090 dated Monday, July 07, 2025, in which we informed the Commission of Year 2025 Party Congresses in twelve (12) States for the purpose of electing new Party Executives,
“This is to confirm to the Commission that the congress will hold as originally scheduled and has not been postponed. The earlier letter signed by the National Chairman should be ignored.
“What this means is that State Congresses in the three (3) aforementioned States shall hold as Earlier scheduled. The commission should note that any communication to commission without both signatures of the National Secretary and the National Chairman should not be honoured while thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter and please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
Investigations by Sunday PUNCH showed that Wike’s loyalists convened and conducted congresses in Cross River State on Saturday without the approval of the NWC.
Attempts to reach the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for comments were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls from our correspondent.
However, one of the PDP leaders, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, stated that despite any actions or inactions against the party, the November convention would go ahead as planned and will be hitch-free.
The source stated, “Regardless of their actions or inactions, the party and its leaders remain determined and focused on ensuring that the November convention is hitch-free and ushers in credible, competent leaders who will reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections.”
In separate letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the acting National Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum, backed by Governor Makinde announced the postponement of the state congresses in Cross River, Kebbi, and Plateau.
However, in a counter letter, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a strong ally of Nyesom Wike, insisted that the congresses in the three states would still hold on Saturday, September 27, as earlier scheduled.
At its 101st NEC meeting on July 24, the PDP had resolved to restructure and reposition itself by holding a National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, where 19 new members of the National Working Committee will be elected.
But Wike, displeased with the South-South Caretaker Committee constituted by the NWC, warned that the non-recognition of Chief Dan Orbih’s election as National Vice Chairman (South-South) could spell a major setback for the party.
While the crisis appeared to have been temporarily contained, Wike cautioned that further conflict was inevitable if Orbih’s mandate is ignored.
The decision by the PDP leadership to conduct congresses in Plateau, Kebbi, and Cross River in order to generate delegates for the forthcoming convention has reignited the rivalry between the Wike and Makinde camps.
In a letter dated September 25, received by the commission on September 26, Damagum revealed that the congresses in the three states had been postponed.
The letter titled, ‘Re: Notice of the 2025 Party Congresses in 12 state chapters of the PDP pursuant to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Postponement of State Congress in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States” indicated, through Damagum, that a new date will be announced later.
It read in part, “Please refer to our letter on the above subject with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1M/25-090 dated Monday, July 07, 2025, in which we informed the Commission of Year 2025 Party Congresses In Twelve (12) States for the purpose of electing New Party Executives.
“However, due to unforeseen circumstances and operational logistic challenges, the National Working Committee of our great Party hereby postpones the State congresses in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025.
“What this means is that State Congresses in the Three (3) aforementioned States will not hold as earlier scheduled. A new date will be communicated to the Commission in due course.
“The Commission should note that this is for information purposes and not a Notice of Congress. We shall formally notify the Commission pursuant to section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, once a new date is fixed.
“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter and please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
In a letter dated September 26, which was also received by the INEC chairman on the same day and titled, ‘Re: Notice of Year 2025 Party Congresses in Twelve (12) State Chapters of the PDP pursuant to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Confirmation of State Congress in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States,” Anyanwu confirmed that the congresses would proceed as scheduled.
The letter read in part, “Please refer to our letter on the above subject with Ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1/25-090 dated Monday, July 07, 2025, in which we informed the Commission of Year 2025 Party Congresses in twelve (12) States for the purpose of electing new Party Executives,
“This is to confirm to the Commission that the congress will hold as originally scheduled and has not been postponed. The earlier letter signed by the National Chairman should be ignored.
“What this means is that State Congresses in the three (3) aforementioned States shall hold as Earlier scheduled. The commission should note that any communication to commission without both signatures of the National Secretary and the National Chairman should not be honoured while thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter and please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
Investigations by Sunday PUNCH showed that Wike’s loyalists convened and conducted congresses in Cross River State on Saturday without the approval of the NWC.
Attempts to reach the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for comments were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls from our correspondent.
However, one of the PDP leaders, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, stated that despite any actions or inactions against the party, the November convention would go ahead as planned and will be hitch-free.
The source stated, “Regardless of their actions or inactions, the party and its leaders remain determined and focused on ensuring that the November convention is hitch-free and ushers in credible, competent leaders who will reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections.”