2027: Wike’s Influence Still Haunts PDP’s Bid to Unseat Tinubu

As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections approach, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) remains entangled in internal divisions—with former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, still at the center of the storm.

Though Wike holds no formal leadership post in the PDP, his influence continues to shape the party’s future, often as a disruptor rather than a unifier.

A Powerbroker Turned Rebel

Wike was long regarded as a political powerhouse in the PDP’s southern base. As governor, he bankrolled campaigns, built cross-regional alliances, and helped the party secure key victories.

But the cracks began to show in 2022 when Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, clinched the PDP’s presidential ticket. Wike demanded that the party’s national chairmanship rotate to the South, in line with internal zoning conventions. The party refused, prompting Wike and four other governors to form the G-5, a dissenting bloc many blame for the PDP’s loss in the 2023 election.

A Defeat That Deepened Divisions

Following the PDP’s 2023 defeat, internal tensions worsened. The party’s leadership faltered, and mistrust festered. Despite being a PDP member, Wike accepted a ministerial appointment from the ruling APC, further complicating his status within the opposition.

He continued to attend PDP NEC meetings while openly working against the party’s interests, including pledging support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

This left the PDP in a dilemma: expel Wike and risk more fallout, or tolerate him and endure further internal disarray.

Zoning Decision Reignites Tensions

Last week, the PDP’s NEC moved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while keeping the national chairmanship in the North—a reversal of the 2023 arrangement.

Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, said,

“No one individual is vindicated… if anything, it is the party that has been vindicated.”

But Lere Olayinka, media aide to Wike, disagreed:

“Now that the party has realised its mistake of not listening to Wike and the G-5 in 2022… have they not been vindicated now? But is it not too late already?”

These opposing views underscore the deeper conflict within the PDP—between principle and political timing.

More Division, Not Unity

Rather than uniting the party, zoning has created fresh friction. In the North-Central, some blocs feel marginalised, including Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a potential 2027 presidential aspirant.

In the South, Governor Seyi Makinde’s South-West faction is gaining momentum, while Wike’s South-South allies have been increasingly sidelined.

Wike’s kingmaker image persists, but many within the PDP see his political maneuvering as destabilising, possibly benefiting the APC more than the opposition.

Can Reconciliation Happen?

Wike remains active behind the scenes and insists that the South-South zonal congress, which produced his ally Chief Dan Orbih, be recognised.
He calls this “non-negotiable,” citing favorable court rulings.

According to party insiders, some view engagement with Wike as a strategic move to prevent defections and retain relevance in South-South and South-East zones.

What Lies Ahead

With the 2027 elections looming, the PDP faces critical decisions. Zoning the presidency to the South may energise the base there, but it risks alienating the North unless the party urgently pursues unity.

All eyes are now on the party’s upcoming elective convention in Ibadan, where new national officers will be elected. Wike’s backing—or opposition—could make or break candidates, especially for the National Working Committee (NWC).

But if the PDP continues to be driven by individual agendas rather than a coherent national strategy, it risks repeating the 2023 chaos. Some party loyalists worry that the infighting could hand the APC a smoother path to re-election.

A Party on the Brink

The PDP today stands at a crossroads. Zoning offers a fresh opportunity, but only if the party can overcome the deep divisions within its ranks. Wike remains both an indispensable ally and a potential saboteur.

The key question remains: Can the PDP shift from factional power struggles to principle-based leadership? Until it does, the opposition’s future remains uncertain, and the path to unseating Tinubu in 2027 grows more complicated.