As the November 16, 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) draws nearer, governors elected on the platform of the party and loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, are locked in a fresh battle of wits over the positions of National Chairman and National Secretary, THISDAY investigation has revealed.
Both camps reportedly agree that the next national chairman should be a former governor to command respect from party faithful. However, with the Governor Douye Diri-led zoning committee failing to micro-zone the position beyond the North, the governors may have settled for former Kano State governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, from the North-west.
On their part, Wike’s loyalists, who had initially considered Hon. T.J. Yusuf of Kogi State, are said to be pushing the candidacy of former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom, from the North-central. Ortom, a former PDP state secretary, deputy state chairman, and National Auditor before serving as minister and governor, is believed to be the reason Wike’s camp insists that the chairmanship remain in the North-central.
Tensions have also emerged over the office of the National Secretary. The three zonal chairmen from the South — Dr. Ali Odefa (South-east), Ajisafe Kamorudeen (South-west), and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi (South-south) — in a September 1, 2025 memo, zoned the position from the South-east to the South-west. But stakeholders argued that since Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is being considered a presidential hopeful, handing the national secretary slot to his zone would unfairly tilt power in his favour.
Outgoing National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu — a Wike ally — rejected the arrangement, claiming Odefa is no longer a party member following a High Court ruling. Odefa dismissed the allegation, saying he would not join those going “so low.”
The zoning tussle nearly derailed a recent Lagos stakeholders’ meeting. The South-west is reportedly plotting to move Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja, into the secretary role, while shifting his current position to the South-south. The South-south is also lobbying for the National Publicity Secretary, while the South-east insists the secretaryship should remain with them.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State PDP caucus has openly defied Wike’s influence, endorsing Tim Ekawu for the September 27 state congress. Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting, the caucus argued that Wike, now an APC minister, has no standing to dictate affairs in the PDP.
A communiqué signed by state secretary Anthony Edako endorsed the national convention arrangements, deepening divisions between the Wike camp and other PDP stakeholders.
Chuks Okocha
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