There’s a new development in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that suggests top leaders may be turning their backs on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in favor of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

This move comes just a week after PDP governors brokered peace among party factions. Despite calls to maintain the status quo, Nyesom Wike’s loyalists on the PDP National Working Committee are now backing Makinde for the 2027 presidential election.

It appears that Wike and other party chieftains are still unhappy with Atiku’s candidacy, citing concerns about his ability to win and his handling of party dynamics.

The logic, according to multiple sources, is to truncate the ambition of Atiku and stop the party from conceding the ticket to the former VP, who they complained has become a ‘serial contestant.’

According to The Punch, some party chieftains who spoke under anonymity admitted that they were yet to forgive the former PDP presidential candidate for bungling their biggest chance to return to power in 2023.

Wike and Makinde, alongside Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, former governors of Benue, Enugu and Abia states respectively, had worked against Atiku’s election in 2023.

A few members of the NWC, who did not want to be identified, also felt Atiku was always seeking to experiment with the PDP and had not shown enough zeal to win it.

They also feared that he may no longer be a sellable candidate in 2027 because of his age, hence the need for a younger and more vibrant candidate like Makinde.

Makinde has openly declared that he is qualified to contest and would push for the 2027 presidential election agenda when the time is right.

The governor stated that “he is old enough to speak for himself on any issue without fear or intimidation,” adding that he would do so publicly if he had anything to say about his political future.

The governor also cautioned Nigerians against allowing the country to slide into a one-party state.

Efforts to get the reaction of the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and the deputy spokesman, Abdullahi Ibrahim, were unsuccessful.

When contacted, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, declined to comment on the intrigue.

But the former VP’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said that they were not under any form of pressure over the choice of Makinde as was being speculated.

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a bold step by recommending the expulsion of former Governor Ayodele Fayose for allegedly working against the party’s interests.

This decision was made public by the state PDP Caretaker Chairman, Dare Adeleke, during a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.

According to Adeleke, Fayose’s expulsion is due to his anti-party activities and misconduct, particularly his public endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Fayose had recently praised Oyebanji, stating that he has done well and that he would continue to support him.

Adeleke emphasized that Fayose’s actions have embarrassed the PDP and could mislead the public about the party’s values. He urged the national leadership to expel Fayose and his allies, warning that keeping them in the party would be detrimental.

The recommendation for Fayose’s expulsion was part of the submissions made to the Tom Ikimi-led Disciplinary Panel and the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Reconciliation Committee.

Adeleke spoke in reaction to a statement by ayose on a television programme that PDP was dead in Ekiti State.

On Saturday, the former governor, while inaugurating the Dehead/Faglo Road and electrification project recently completed, reiterated his support for the second term bid of Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress.

Fayose said to Oyebanji, “I am very proud of you. You have done well. We will continue to be with you. You have gone far in terms of development. Let me wait for that person who will say you have not done well. I am going to stand by you”.

However, Adeleke stated that Fayose’s action had embarrassed the PDP and could mislead the public about the party’s true values.

Adeleke urged the national leadership to expel Fayose and his allies, warning that keeping them in the PDP would be detrimental, as their loyalty no longer lies with the party.

He said, “The PDP has set up a disciplinary committee headed by Chief Tom Ikimi. We (CTC) have met with the committee. Our position is that Ayo Fayose must be expelled from the party”.

Speaking of the former governor’s comments, Adeleke said, “My reply is very simple, that Fayose is not a member of PDP anymore. So, whatever he says is being said to soothe or massage the ego of his boss, Oyebanji. Oyebanji is his boss now.

“If a man (Fayose) shouts on top of the roof that Oyebanji came to his house 18 times in two years – what is he (the governor) doing there? Sharing Ekiti’s money, going to Fayose to give him Ekiti’s money! What is the governor doing there?

“Fayose is a person who wants everything to himself. If Fayose is now telling the whole world he can do this, he can do that, it is because he wants more money from Oyebanji, and Oyebanji will surely give it to him. He needs to say something sweet. He knows that he is doing it for something”.

The PDP CTC chairman wondered how the basis upon which anybody could express support for Oyebanji, who he said had failed Ekiti State in the last two years in the areas of infrastructure, health, security, education and others.

“Where are the infrastructures here in Ekiti? I have not seen much infrastructure in the state, and the roads are in a state of decadence. The health sector is bad.

“We must confront the reality of the past two years under the present administration of Governor Oyebanji. It is regrettable that this period has been marked by a glaring lack of progress, with many areas of development and governance left unattended,” Adeleke said.

The PDP CTC chairman, who condemned Fayose’s actions, encouraged him “to take the bold and honest step of officially decamping rather than openly aligning himself with an opposing party and misleading others into his self-serving interests.

“Our focus is on strengthening Ekiti PDP. Fayose’s behaviour only serves to weaken our collective efforts. As we continue this journey of rebuilding, I urge all party members to remain focused and avoid any form of distraction that could derail our progress.

“The work ahead is crucial, and we must stand united in our mission. I also encourage everyone to support the Local Government Caretaker Committees as they strive to rebuild and restore our party’s strength across all levels in Ekiti State.

“Together, we can achieve a renewed and vibrant PDP that serves the people of Ekiti with integrity and purpose,” Adeleke said, urging Ekiti people to remain calm, patient, and vigilant.

“In 2026, we must reject this cycle of neglect and choose leadership that genuinely prioritizes our collective well-being and development,” he added.

As the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party persists, new factional acting National Chairman Yayari Mohammed has challenged the rival National Working Committee led by Umar Damagum to act on their security threats.

The acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi of the Damagum-led NWC faction, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday warned of potential security measures against Mohammed’s faction in order to uphold the rule of law during the ongoing internal disputes.

The opposition party has been embroiled in an internal crisis since 2022, which has polarised its NWC.

The crisis rocking the PDP took a twist on Friday when its national leadership broke into two factions with Yayari Mohammed, and the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, leading each of the two factions.

PDP’s factionalisation followed the suspension of its National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, by a faction of the NWC led by Damagum, on Friday, after the 593rd meeting of the NWC on Thursday.

Ibrahim Abdullahi and Okechukwu Osuoha were appointed by the faction to replace the duo in acting capacities.

But in a counter statement, the National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, by the NWC due to what the statement described as the series of complaints raised against the duo.

On the same day, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja restrained the NEC, the highest decision-making organ of the party, and the Board of Trustees from removing Damagum as the acting national chairman.

In a judgment delivered via Zoom, Justice Peter Lifu ordered that apart from Damagum, no other person must be recognised as the PDP acting national chairman until the party’s convention scheduled for December 2025.

Speaking on the basis of the court order at the press conference on Monday, Abdullahi, warned the Mohammed group against disobeying the judgment recognising Damagum as the authentic chairman of the party.

He stated, “We must ensure that certain actions are not guided by sentiments and personal interests, but by the party’s constitution.

“In the face of this reckless violation of a subsisting court order, we are left with no option but to deploy the services of security agencies to enforce the rule of law.”

Abdullahi added that to enhance the learning process of party leadership and administration, members must ensure that actions were based on the party’s constitution and existing guidelines, rather than influenced by “sentiments and personal interests.”

He added, “Let all concerned know that the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, my humble self, now acting National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser and now Acting National Legal Adviser assumed office following the Decision of the NWC; and it is in line with the PDP Constitution (2017 as Amended) following the absence of our substantive officers.

“It is made abundantly clear in Section 40(2) and 42(2).

“It is therefore distasteful for a leader who ought to inform the uninformed but instead goes ahead to misinform on a national television and other media channels that our assumption of office in acting capacity is unconstitutional and does not exist.

“Furthermore, we are constrained to express our utter disgust and disappointment in our colleagues’ resort to motor park approach to a mere suspension aimed at providing them with the opportunity to clear themselves of certain allegations against them.

“Although we have detailed knowledge of the drummers, the masqueraders should have been guided in their dance steps to avert stripping themselves naked on the stage.”

However, in an interview (with The Punch) on Monday, new factional chairman Mohammed stated that they would heed the party leaders rather than respond to threats.

He stated, “We have submitted all our positions and views to the organs of the party: the governors’ forum, the Board of Trustees, and other members of the party.

“We have expressed our concerns and reasons for our stance.

“They have assured us that they will take a position and get back to us.

“Therefore, we are not worried about any threats; they should go ahead and carry out theirs.

“We have expressed our concerns clearly.

“The party’s constitution should be obeyed, and that is our demand.

“I am also sure that from now till Friday our leaders will get back to us.

“We will listen to them and not to threats.”

Meanwhile, the governors elected under the PDP adjourned their meeting regarding the crisis to Tuesday (today) after Monday’s meeting ended without the governors reaching a compromise.

A national officer of the party under anonymity confirmed that the meeting held via Zoom.