LAGOS, Nigeria — Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has hit back at Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, declaring that he is ready to “go into the gutter” with the former Rivers governor over the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention.
Makinde made the remark on Thursday, August 21, 2025, in Lagos after the PDP southern consultative zoning meeting, where party stakeholders gathered to deliberate ahead of the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Wike had told reporters he was not invited to the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where the Ibadan venue was approved.
“I am not aware that they are going to a convention in Ibadan. As an NEC member, I have not been informed, nor have I been invited to the NEC meeting,” Wike said.
But party insiders say that Wike was indeed invited to the session.
Reacting to Wike’s comments, Makinde said he would not shy away from confronting the FCT minister if necessary.
“Personally, when people go low, or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them,” Makinde told journalists.
“But this time, I will go into the gutter with him if I have to.”
The governor emphasised that the dispute should not become personal, stressing that the party must focus on presenting itself as a credible alternative to Nigerians ahead of 2027.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching, you know. We want to give a PDP,” he added.
The latest spat stems from long-running tensions in the PDP.
Earlier this year, Wike insisted the party could not move forward until it recognised the outcome of the South-South Zonal Congress in Calabar, which re-elected Dan Orbih, his ally, as chairman.
The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) disowned the congress in March and rejected Orbih’s election, further widening divisions.
Meanwhile, some PDP leaders — including state chairmen from the South-East and South-South — claimed they were not invited to Thursday’s Lagos meeting, describing it as “secretive” and vowing to resist its outcome.
Still, Makinde pledged efforts to engage with aggrieved members to foster unity ahead of the party’s November convention.
The Lagos zoning session was attended by Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman, Udom Emmanuel, former Governor of Akwa Ibom
The PDP’s zoning committee, inaugurated earlier this month, has 44 members tasked with allocating party positions to Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in the run-up to the Ibadan convention.
