The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday expressed concerns that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention, scheduled for November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State, may not hold if longstanding internal crises remain unresolved. Speaking during his monthly media chat, Wike emphasized that the real issue hindering the convention is not the venue, but the unresolved problems leading up to it.
Wike clarified that PDP had agreed to set up committees for the Southeast and Ebonyi, with his faction actively engaged in discussions to resolve these issues. He stated that if these concerns are not adequately addressed, they could lead to a setback, potentially disrupting the convention. Wike stressed that speculation that he was contesting the convention's location was incorrect; his focus is on ensuring proper preparations and resolutions before the event.
He pointed out that the PDP has held successful conventions in various cities, including Port Harcourt and Abuja, and the upcoming venue can change, but the success of the convention depends on the resolution of underlying conflicts. Wike added that the party has taken steps to address grievances and that if the complaints are resolved satisfactorily, the convention can proceed; otherwise, there might be consequences.
The PDP remains internally divided on several issues, including the recognition of zonal congresses and leadership roles. Wike’s group maintains that disputes at the zonal level must be settled for peace to prevail, cautioning that failure to do so might ignite fresh conflicts threatening party unity.