Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, held talks with key political figures, including former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, amid a breakdown in reconciliation efforts within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Makinde and Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, first met behind closed doors with Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, in Bauchi on Sunday.
Makinde and Dickson later travelled to Kano, where they joined Kwankwaso and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Although the meeting was officially linked to Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, sources close to Kwankwaso told The Punch that the discussions were not unconnected with preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gathering went beyond the festivities and involved high-level political consultations.
“You can see that we have people who are determined to contest. We have PDP leaders, the Nigeria Democratic Congress national leader, and Peter Obi with Kwankwaso. Discussions around 2027, political alignment and realignment are part of the engagement,” the source said.
PDP Crisis Deepens
The meeting comes as reconciliation efforts between PDP governors and the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, appear to have stalled.
On Sunday, Jungudo Mohammed, spokesperson of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee, accused a rival group led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) of plotting to disrupt the party’s national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30.
RELATED NEWS:
- Makinde Accuses Wike’s PDP Faction of Backing Tinubu’s Re-election
- Wike Camp Lists Conditions Ahead of PDP Reconciliation Talks
- Wike-backed PDP Faction Fixes March 28–29 for National Convention
However, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson of the Turaki-backed faction, dismissed the allegation, describing it as blackmail and insisting that his group remained committed to reconciliation.
After nearly a year of internal crisis, the PDP split into two factions. Despite the division, the governors’ camp held a convention in Ibadan on November 16, where Turaki and others emerged as members of the National Working Committee.
In response, Wike’s camp set up a 13-member National Caretaker Working Committee in December, with Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary, to oversee the party pending a fresh convention.
Court Rulings
The leadership dispute later moved to the courts. On March 9, the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier Federal High Court judgment, ruling that the Ibadan convention violated the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP constitution.
The court consequently nullified the outcome of the convention, including the emergence of Turaki and other officials.
In a separate ruling, another Court of Appeal panel sitting in Ibadan urged all parties to explore an amicable resolution.
Although both camps had, in recent weeks, indicated a willingness to reconcile, fresh disagreements suggest the talks may have reached a deadlock.
Makinde Speaks
Addressing journalists, Makinde ruled out any alignment with Wike’s camp, saying such a move would amount to backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
“I stated publicly that I was at a meeting with Wike and the president, and he promised to deliver the PDP for the president in 2027. Anyone dealing with that group has, by implication, agreed to support President Tinubu,” he said.
“We are not stopping anyone from supporting whoever they choose, but they should be clear about their position. They may have the backing of the government, the judiciary and INEC, but we have the people.”
Call for Reconciliation
Responding, Jungudo Mohammed said efforts to resolve the crisis were ongoing, adding that differences within the party should not be allowed to persist.
“There are no irreconcilable differences, especially in politics. Reconciliation is ongoing through established mechanisms,” he said.
He also insisted that the party’s national convention would go ahead as planned, citing court rulings affirming the caretaker committee as the recognised leadership.
“These judgments are binding and remain in force. The convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 will proceed as planned,” he added.
Turaki Camp Reacts
Reacting, Ememobong accused the Wike-aligned group of undermining reconciliation efforts.
“It is unfortunate that those expected to act responsibly are still resorting to blackmail. From the moment we agreed to reconciliation, we made concessions and maintained communication,” he said.
He denied knowledge of any plan to obtain a court injunction against the convention and maintained that his camp remained open to dialogue.
Kano Meeting
Hours after the Bauchi meeting, Makinde and Dickson arrived in Kano for the 10th edition of the Dandalin Kwankwasiyya, held at Kwankwaso’s residence.
The event attracted political stakeholders, party loyalists and supporters from across the country.
Organisers said the gathering provided an avenue for interaction, reflection and political engagement, while also serving as a platform to strengthen alliances ahead of future contests.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
