Makinde PDP Faction Regrets Wike Platform Amid Feud

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde expressed regret on Wednesday for providing Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike a platform to rise in Nigerian politics, responding to his criticisms of their leadership during a media chat in Abuja.

Wike, who backs a rival PDP faction led by National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, challenged the Makinde-supported group under Kabiru Turaki to prove its legitimacy by opening transparent party bank accounts and operating openly from Abuja offices. He warned banks against allowing the Turaki faction to open accounts for nomination form sales, stating any such bank "will be in trouble," and threatened to seal properties used as their headquarters. "Let them open an office anywhere and call it the PDP secretariat," Wike said, insisting only court-recognized structures can run party affairs.

The Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, inaugurated by the party's National Executive Committee after a Supreme Court ruling created a leadership vacuum, dismissed Wike's threats. National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said the faction is using official party accounts for ongoing sales...