The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened as former governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State publicly declared support for the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the party’s National Working Committee.
Their endorsement comes amid renewed tensions between loyalists of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Wike’s camp, as both sides mobilise ahead of the party’s National Elective Convention slated for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In separate statements on Sunday, Ortom and Fayose threw their weight behind the faction led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, accusing the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, of deepening the party’s woes through poor leadership and partiality.
They argued that the Wike-aligned group represented “the authentic PDP structure” working to restore internal democracy and discipline within the opposition party.
Party insiders told Sunday PUNCH that Ortom and Fayose’s open support for Wike has rattled other power blocs within the PDP, particularly governors and national officers sympathetic to Damagum and Makinde.
Meanwhile, Makinde’s allies are said to be regrouping to counter the Wike camp’s growing influence. They are reportedly planning a high-level strategy meeting in Ibadan this week to solidify control of the South-West zone and influence the composition of the convention’s key committees.
Supporters of the FCT Minister, Wike, have accused the Damagum-led national leadership of bias, incompetence, and disregard for micro-zoning arrangements in key positions, particularly in the South-South and North-Central zones.
Sources also revealed that some serving PDP governors are weighing options to broker peace to prevent the crisis from derailing the convention, which many see as a crucial step toward rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
