Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that any reconciliation effort within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must be carried out with honesty and sincerity, insisting that his camp remains firmly in control of the party’s structure.
Speaking following Monday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, which nullified the November 15–16, 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, Wike said his faction is open to reconciliation but will negotiate from a position of strength.
The appellate court decision upheld an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Ibadan, which affirmed the leadership structure of the party’s current National Caretaker Working Committee.
“PDP will never die. There comes a time that you have crises, but those grains are for you to put yourself in order. Life is in stages. For me, what is happening is a natural process that we must pass through as humans. We are for reconciliation, but genuine reconciliation,” Wike said.
He challenged rival factions within the party to present clear proposals for reconciliation and warned against what he described as secret negotiations.
Addressing the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Wike said those seeking reconciliation must be transparent about their intentions.
“When you are talking about reconciliation, come with your terms of reconciliation so that we will know. Concrete proposal, not like the last time you came to me and before I knew it, you were in Ibadan for the convention,” he said.
The minister also dismissed claims that his participation in the administration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) made him a “mole” within the PDP.
“It was as if I was the cause of the problem because I am working in an APC administration, but all the ones who accused me are today in APC, and me that they accused has not left the PDP,” he stated.
Wike further insisted that preparations for the party’s upcoming national convention were already underway and rejected suggestions of establishing another caretaker committee to appease aggrieved members.
“The party is working hard for the convention to hold. They have paid the necessary fees. They have secured the venue. So, let nobody bring another suggestion that we should form another caretaker committee. I won’t accept that. Convention must hold and we will allow everybody to participate,” he said.
Responding to those threatening to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, Wike said legal action was their right but maintained that his camp currently had the advantage.
“They said they are going to the Supreme Court, it is okay. The court is for everybody. Even in table tennis, one must lose. There is no tie in this game. We have the upper hand and we will tell you this is what we want,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Moro acknowledged Wike’s influence within the party and called for compromise in resolving the ongoing crisis.
He disclosed that he had met earlier with the faction led by Taminu Turaki in a bid to find a solution to the dispute.
Also speaking, House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda described the Court of Appeal judgment as a lifeline for the party and democracy in Nigeria.
Chinda expressed optimism that the ruling could restore confidence in the party and possibly attract defectors back to the PDP.
The meeting was attended by several party leaders, including former governors Samuel Ortom and Ifeanyi Ikpeazu, Caretaker Committee Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, Secretary Sam Anyanwu, and Board of Trustees Chairman Mao Ohuabunwa, among others.
