Wike Insists on Dominant Role in PDP Reconciliation After Court Victory
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that any reconciliation effort within Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must be conducted with “honesty and sincerity,” asserting that his faction retains firm control of the party’s machinery. His comments follow a significant legal victory for his allies, as the Court of Appeal upheld the legitimacy of the current National Caretaker Working Committee, nullifying a rival faction’s convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
While expressing openness to reconciliation, Wike emphasized that his camp would engage only from a position of strength. “We are for reconciliation, but genuine reconciliation,” he said, challenging opponents to present clear, transparent terms. He specifically criticized Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro for past actions, stating, “I don’t like those who go to negotiate at night and come out to shout in the day. Let those coming for peace come in the daytime.”
Wike firmly rejected calls to form a new caretaker committee, confirming that logistical plans for the upcoming National Convention are finalized, including venue payment and securing. “Convention must hold and we will allow everybody to participate,” he stated, while acknowledging that rivals may pursue further litigation at the Supreme Court. “We have the upper hand,” he added.
The meeting, held at Wike’s instance, included prominent PDP figures seeking unity. Senator Moro, acknowledging Wike’s key role, pleaded for a middle ground and emphasized the National Assembly caucus’s commitment to a united party. “The survival of PDP is paramount to me,” Moro said, urging members to prioritize the party over personal ambitions.
House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda hailed the Court of Appeal’s judgment as a “lifeline for the party’s future” and for Nigerian democracy, suggesting it would stem defections. He linked peace to justice, stating, “Whoever seeks peace must also seek justice.”
Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Chairman of the Imo State PDP and Forum of State Chairmen, affirmed grassroots support for the current leadership trajectory and urged the party to prioritize modernizing membership registration ahead of future elections.
The gathering, which also included former governors and top party officials, underscored a concerted push to consolidate the caretaker committee’s authority following the court rulings, while publicly advocating for an inclusive but structured path forward for the opposition party.
