Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied awareness of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, casting doubt on reports of the party’s preparation progress.
Speaking on Tuesday during Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State and member of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC), said, “I am not aware that any convention is holding in Ibadan. As a NEC member, nobody has informed me, and no such decision has been voted on by NEC.”
Responding to speculation about a possible parallel convention orchestrated by dissenting elements within the party, Wike remarked, “If a few people gather to make pronouncements, that cannot pass for NEC.” When asked whether he would attend the Ibadan convention, he stated, “When NEC meets, we will know. Until then, I don’t know about Ibadan… So, how can you say I am planning a parallel convention? Planning to do what?”
Wike’s comments come amid growing rumblings of discomfort within his camp over the arrangements led by the convention’s organising committee, raising concerns about potential fractures within the party’s ranks ahead of a pivotal election year.
However, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, swiftly dismissed these claims as unfounded. He affirmed that the party has followed due process in preparing for the convention under the leadership of the National Convention Planning Committee, chaired by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. According to Ologunagba, “The party is ready for the national convention scheduled by NEC for Ibadan… The process has been transparent and inclusive, with all state chapters, organs, and stakeholders represented.”
Addressing the rumours about a parallel convention, Ologunagba said, “We cannot be aware of a non-existent thing. That is pure speculation… The talk of a parallel convention is nothing more than conjecture, maybe hallucination. The PDP’s train has since left the station—we are already in Ibadan as we speak.”
