PDP Leaders Split Over Wike’s Bid for Southern Presidency

Top leaders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have become sharply divided following Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s renewed push for the presidential ticket to be zoned to the South. Wike has publicly accused several southern governors of "ganging up" with vested interests to block the South’s bid for the 2023 presidency—an agreement he claims was made within the party .

The Rivers governor has not only taken aim at governors but also clashed with party organs. In February, his camp rejected the National Working Committee’s nomination of a caretaker team for the South-South, leading to a high-stakes showdown in Calabar. Wike maintained that a zonal congress—held with his backing—would stand as final .

These moves have intensified existing fault lines. While Wike’s supporters say his stance defends the South’s rights, critics argue he is forcing a power grab and fracturing the party ahead of the 2027 elections. Southern PDP figures have also expressed unease over Wike’s silence on Atiku Abubakar’s vice presidential pick, suggesting continued unrest in the region .

With growing tension between the party’s South-South and the national leadership, observers warn the PDP risks eroding its cohesion if it cannot reconcile its zoning disputes. The discord underscores deeper regional and factional rivalries, casting doubt on the party’s ability to present a united front in future polls.

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