Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

So, the PDP’s national convention is coming up in Ibadan in barely a week. It seems the state chairmen are squarely behind Governor Seyi Makinde. They’ve voiced their full support.

The chairmen think any attempts to mess with the party before the 2027 elections are a waste of time and definitely not what’s best for the PDP.

The meeting, organized by the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, led by Hon. Tony Aziegbemi, the Edo State chairman, happened at the Oyo State Lodge in Abuja. Governor Makinde was there too.

Officially, it was just a ‘courtesy visit,’ but some say it was more of a power play, showing solidarity with Makinde before the convention.

Aziegbemi put it pretty bluntly after the meeting: “This PDP infighting? It’s a real battle. Some folks just want to weaken the PDP so the APC has an easy win in 2027. Not gonna happen.”

Meanwhile, things are tense in the PDP. You’ve got Governor Makinde on one side and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, on the other, both wanting control before those 2027 elections.

They’re disagreeing about how the upcoming national convention in Ibadan on November 15–16 should go.

Sources say the Wike side wants to push the convention back until some problems are sorted out. This includes recognizing the Dan Orbih-led South-South Zonal Working Committee, figuring out what’s up with Chief Ali Odefa, the expelled National Vice Chairman (South-East), and redoing state congresses in a few states.

The whole thing also boils down to who’s really in charge. Like, Ambassador Umar Damagum’s still the National Chairman even after the Wike group suspended him. The bigger picture? It’s about getting the PDP back on its feet as a real opposition before 2027.

The chairmen are saying they were just thanking Governor Makinde for keeping things stable. But, let’s be real, it also looked like a big show of support for him. People see his side as the one calling the shots now.

People close to the meeting said they’re worried some people are stirring up trouble to weaken the PDP before 2027, which could really help the APC.

By talking about the infighting as part of the lead-up to 2027, the chairmen are turning what could be seen as a normal leadership squabble into a fight for the PDP’s very survival.

Despite being firm, Aziegbemi was friendly to the suspended chairmen from Imo and Abia States, who are with Wike. He said they still support Senator Adolphus Wabara’s reconciliation efforts. Wabara heads up one faction of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Aziegbemi: “Reconciliation is always possible. They’re our friends, our brothers. We’ll keep seeing them that way.”

The Ibadan Test

That convention in Ibadan? It’s the PDP’s biggest test since the 2023 elections. For Governor Makinde, it’s a chance to prove he can keep things together, but it could also put him under a lot of pressure.

Party insiders think the chairmen were trying to reassure Makinde that he has support across the country before the negotiations in Ibadan, which are expected to be tough.

Still, not everyone’s happy. Some leaders aligned with Wike aren’t pleased with what they see as Governor Makinde’s ‘overreach.’ It’s been a sore point in the PDP for a while now.

To some, the chairmen’s meeting wasn’t just a courtesy visit, but a move to get their ducks in a row before the convention.

Their main point? The PDP’s problems are part of a bigger attempt to hurt opposition politics in Nigeria. They’re trying to rally everyone together and get public support before 2027.

Aziegbemi: “We’re with the governors and the National Working Committee, standing on the right side. The plans of those who want to keep this country down won’t work.”

Whether this optimism turns into actual stability? We’ll see. But the PDP’s state chairmen have made their position clear. They see themselves as more than just administrators – they’re defending a party that’s fighting to stay relevant for 2027.
Makinde stuff 8-11-25

Read Original