The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has intensified the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), taking a swipe at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his role in the party’s internal dispute.

Wike made the remarks on Monday during a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of a PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The latest exchange follows a Court of Appeal ruling that nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which had produced Kabiru Turaki as national chairman. The judgement has further deepened divisions within the party, prompting stakeholders to call for reconciliation between rival factions to preserve the PDP’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

On Sunday, Makinde, who is aligned with Turaki’s faction, accused members associating with Wike’s camp of indirectly supporting President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

“We need Nigerians to judge. If you can be in their camp, where they promised to support the president, so be it,” Makinde said. “We are not begrudging them. You can support whoever you like, but go to them if that is your choice.”

He further alleged institutional bias in favour of Wike’s camp, stating, “They have the government behind them. They have the judiciary behind them. They have INEC behind them. But we have the people behind us.”

Responding, Wike dismissed the governor’s position, accusing him of escalating tensions without the political strength to prevail.

“A fight you can’t fight, don’t start it,” Wike said, warning that Makinde had embarked on a political battle he could not win.

Meanwhile, Mohammed reaffirmed that his faction would proceed with its planned national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, despite what he described as attempts by the opposing camp to halt the exercise.

He expressed confidence in the PDP’s resilience as a viable opposition platform and urged party members to remain disciplined and united ahead of the convention.