The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has stated that the internal crisis currently affecting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is unlike anything previously experienced by a political party in Nigeria.
Makinde, who is the only PDP governor in the South-West region, said the scale of the leadership conflict within the party is unprecedented in the country’s political history.
Speaking during a meeting of the party’s PDP Board of Trustees in Abuja on Tuesday, the governor explained that he had consulted political stakeholders and individuals familiar with Nigeria’s political evolution to determine whether a similar situation had occurred before.
According to him, none of those consulted could recall any political party experiencing a crisis of such magnitude.
Deepening Leadership Dispute
The PDP, which once ruled Nigeria at the federal level, has been facing a severe internal dispute that analysts warn could threaten its chances in the 2027 Nigerian general elections if the issues are not resolved.
The crisis has divided the party into two main factions. One faction is aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the other is led by Kabiru Turaki, who emerged as national chairman during the party’s convention held in Ibadan in November last year.
However, the group loyal to Wike rejected the convention, arguing that it did not comply with the party’s constitution. The faction subsequently set up a caretaker committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed to oversee the party’s affairs.
Court Decisions Intensify Dispute
The leadership conflict later moved to the courts. In January, the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the convention that produced Turaki as national chairman.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Uche Agomoh held that the caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, with Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, remained the only recognised National Working Committee of the party until a valid convention is conducted.
The court ruled that the Ibadan convention violated two existing court orders and barred Turaki and other officials elected during the event from presenting themselves as national officers of the party.
Turaki later appealed the decision. However, on Monday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal upheld the earlier ruling and declared the convention invalid.
The appellate court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise the outcome of the convention, including Turaki’s leadership.
Despite the ruling, Turaki has indicated that he may challenge the decision at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Some party leaders, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, have advised Turaki’s faction against pursuing further legal action, warning that prolonged litigation could prevent the party from fielding candidates in future elections.
Defections and Party Strength
Currently, only two governors remain in the PDP — Makinde and Bala Mohammed. Both are serving their second terms in office.
Despite the reduction in the party’s number of governors following defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Makinde said he was not worried about the situation.
According to him, the party leadership must act responsibly during the crisis, stressing that history will judge the roles played by individuals during this period.
He urged party members to remain mindful of their actions and decisions as the party works to overcome the internal conflict.
