The crisis inside the Peoples Democratic Party has continued to deepen, and the faction aligned with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has taken a new and dramatic step that signals how turbulent the coming days may become. The group has announced that the party’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee will both meet on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in what they describe as an emergency gathering.
This announcement did not come quietly or through the usual party channels; instead, Samuel Anyanwu, who serves as the faction’s National Secretary, issued the notice and circulated it publicly. The information spread even faster when Lere Olayinka, media aide to the FCT Minister, shared it openly on his X handle. The message left no room for doubt. Something serious is unfolding, and this faction intends to show that it still holds relevance and structure within the PDP despite the dramatic events that have shaken the party in recent days.
The notice made it clear that both meetings would take place at the NEC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza in Abuja. The Board of Trustees would settle in first by 11 a.m., and the NEC would gather by 2 p.m. The faction emphasized the importance of attendance, insisting that crucial matters require urgent attention. That statement alone raised eyebrows. For a group that the main party structure claims to have expelled, announcing a high-level meeting at the national secretariat signals defiance and a refusal to accept the convention outcome.
It also reveals how complicated the internal struggle has become. One side insists it has removed certain figures from the party; the other side insists it remains legitimate. Both sides operate within the same political space, and both claim the authority to convene official party meetings. The message behind that move is bold and intentional: the crisis is far from settled.
YEPS had earlier reported that the PDP expelled several prominent figures during its 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. That dramatic decision included the removal of Wike, Anyanwu, former National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, and several others accused of anti-party conduct. The list shocked many observers, not only because of the names involved but also because of the scale of the action. It was not a quiet purge; it was a sweeping political earthquake that signaled the leadership’s determination to crush internal rebellion once and for all.
The motion for their expulsion came from former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Bode George. He did not hesitate when he stood before the delegates to make the case for such a drastic measure. Samaila Buga, the Bauchi State PDP Chairman, wasted no time in seconding the motion, showing that the momentum behind the purge was not limited to one region or faction. After that, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, presented the motion to the delegates for a voice vote. The response came loud and clear, leaving no confusion about where the majority stood. The delegates endorsed the expulsion overwhelmingly, and the message echoed across the political landscape: the party is ready to confront anyone it considers a threat to its future cohesion.
However, as soon as the convention ended, it became obvious that the situation would not resolve itself easily. The expelled figures did not step aside quietly. They did not retreat or acknowledge the decision with resignation. Instead, they moved swiftly to assert their own legitimacy. By announcing official meetings—meetings normally reserved for recognized party leaders—they showed that they would not surrender their influence or their structures. Their actions challenge the authority of the decisions made in Ibadan and push the party closer to a battle for control of its very identity.
Anyone following the PDP’s internal politics understands that nothing about this crisis is simple. The conflict did not start at the convention, and it certainly will not end there. The tension between Wike and the party leadership has simmered for years, and each election cycle exposed deeper fractures. Wike’s influence in the party, especially in Rivers State and across the South-South, has always been significant. When he speaks, many loyalists listen. When he moves, he does not move alone. That reality makes his expulsion—and the expulsion of his closest political allies—more than a disciplinary action. It represents a gamble that the party leadership believes it must take to restore internal order.
But Wike’s faction clearly believes the leadership miscalculated. By convening emergency meetings at the same national secretariat where the main party structure operates, the faction sends a message that it still commands loyalty within certain blocs. No faction issues an invitation to the NEC Hall unless it believes it has the strength to make that invitation meaningful. And when that invitation instructs members that “attendance is very important,” the implication becomes even clearer: the faction intends to prove that it still holds seats, voices, and influence within the party.
Political analysts who observe the situation point out that the PDP now moves in two directions at once. One direction seeks to assert discipline, remove dissenters, and present a united front with structures firmly under the control of those who pushed for the expulsion. The other direction challenges what it views as an unfair and politically motivated purge. These analysts argue that the conflict reflects old struggles that never fully healed—struggles over control, ideology, regional influence, and strategy heading into future elections.
The meeting scheduled by the Wike-backed faction creates new questions. Who will attend? What will they announce? Will they attempt to reverse their expulsion through internal measures? Will they claim that the convention itself suffered procedural flaws? If they hold the meeting successfully, how will the main party leadership respond? And if security agencies intervene to prevent the meeting, what message would that send to Nigerians about the depth of the conflict?
Those questions matter, not only to PDP members but also to the broader political environment in the country. The PDP remains one of Nigeria’s most influential political parties, and its internal stability affects national politics. When a party of that size divides itself, coalition alignments change, election strategies shift, and rival parties begin to reposition themselves. Some politicians may quietly watch these developments to decide whether they will defect, stay neutral, or negotiate new alliances. This moment is more than an internal dispute; it represents a test of survival for a party that has governed the country before and still hopes to do so again.
Many Nigerians also view this crisis as a reflection of deeper problems within the nation’s political culture. Loyalty often shifts rapidly, alliances form based on personal influence rather than shared ideology, and internal democracy becomes difficult to maintain. The PDP once described itself as Africa’s largest political party, but over the years, internal conflict, leadership struggles, and competing power centers have weakened its cohesion. The current crisis highlights that long-standing challenge: how does a party stay united when powerful individuals command strong regional structures and refuse to submit easily to central authority?
Wike stands at the center of this storm. Love him or criticize him, people rarely regard him with indifference. His voice carries weight, and his network remains strong. He built alliances across states and among influential figures who respect his political courage and strategic boldness. That influence is part of the reason the party leadership decided to act decisively at the convention. They wanted to draw a line that no one could cross. But instead of ending the conflict, their decision may have ignited a new phase of political confrontation.
As the date for the proposed emergency meetings approaches, tension will likely grow. The national secretariat at Wadata Plaza may become a stage for confrontation, negotiation, or a show of strength from either side. Some party members may arrive hoping to prevent chaos; others may stay away entirely to avoid taking sides too openly. Observers expect journalists, security personnel, and political loyalists to gather in anticipation of what may unfold. The PDP often finds itself at the center of political drama, but this moment stands out because it determines whether the party moves forward unified or splinters into parallel structures.
Nigeria’s political history shows that once a major party breaks into factions, reconciliation becomes difficult. Bitter disagreements turn into prolonged battles for legitimacy. Court cases multiply. Stakeholders form new alliances. Some members defect to rival parties. Others stay and fight. The PDP may face that possibility if the crisis escalates. But the party also has a history of surviving difficult seasons. It has endured electoral defeats, leadership collapses, defections, and ideological battles. Whether it survives this moment depends on the willingness of both sides to negotiate or confront their differences directly.
The faction loyal to Wike believes the convention acted unjustly. The main leadership believes it acted necessarily. Both sides claim to protect the party’s future. Yet both cannot control the party at the same time. The struggle now becomes a contest of strength, numbers, influence, loyalty, and strategic timing. The emergency meetings may provide the first major indication of how the battle will unfold.
What remains clear is that this is not a crisis that will disappear quietly. The actions taken in the coming days will shape the PDP’s identity heading into future elections. Nigerians will watch to see who controls the narrative, who shows strength, and who retreats. They will also watch to see whether the party resolves the crisis internally or sinks deeper into division.
This story is only at its beginning, and the political consequences will not stay hidden. Every move that either faction makes will carry weight. Every gathering, every announcement, every declaration will signal the direction the PDP intends to take. And as both sides claim legitimacy, the battle for control of the party will continue to intensify.