PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike, Makinde Camps Reject INEC Mediation
PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike, Makinde Camps Reject INEC Mediation
According to a report by The Punch on Sunday, December 21, 2025, the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened, with rival factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde refusing to shift ground despite the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC on Friday summoned both factions to its Abuja headquarters following a barrage of conflicting correspondences from the party.
The meeting involved the faction chaired by Tanimu Turaki, aligned with Makinde, and the opposing group led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, loyal to Wike.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission was compelled to intervene in line with its constitutional responsibility to monitor political parties, especially ahead of the February 21, 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls scheduled for June and July 2026.
However, the Makinde-backed faction insisted it remained the legitimate leadership of the PDP.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary under that bloc, Ini Ememobong, said the meeting resolved nothing beyond the agreement that all parties must await the decision of the Court of Appeal.
He noted that two Federal High Court rulings relating to the PDP’s November convention were under appeal, stressing that the Supreme Court had already ruled that INEC lacked the power to determine party leadership.
On the other side, the Wike camp dismissed the Ibadan convention as invalid. Acting National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said reconciliation would only be possible if the faction withdrew its court cases and admitted that no legitimate convention held.
Osadolor further alleged that defections by key figures, including Governor Ademola Adeleke, weakened the Makinde bloc’s claim to legitimacy.
