…Hon Comrade James Onifade blasts Makinde and Wike over the PDP’s internal tussle and its legal battles
In the wake of today’s shattering court ruling, it’s time for us to face a harsh reality that the PDP, once Nigeria’s beacon of opposition and democratic hope, has been irreparably compromised.
The Federal High Court in Ibadan has nullified the party’s National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in the same city, declaring it invalid due to violations of the party’s constitution and existing court orders.
The court has barred Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and his allies from posing as national officers, while affirming the Caretaker Committee under Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the sole recognized National Working Committee (NWC) until a legitimate convention can be convened.
This isn’t just another internal squabble or legal hiccup , it’s a calculated sabotage that spells doom for the party’s immediate future. And let’s call it what it is: the handiwork of Nyesom Wike, the former Rivers State governor turned Federal Capital Territory Minister under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wike’s faction has emerged victorious in this ruling, as multiple reports confirm it as a “win for Wike’s camp.” But victory for whom? Not for the PDP, not for democracy, and certainly not for the Nigerian people yearning for a strong opposition to hold the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable.
Wike’s actions reek of betrayal
By aligning himself with Tinubu and accepting a plum ministerial post in an APC government while still claiming PDP membership, he has effectively sold out the opposition. No doubt that the court decision, delivered in a manner that reeks of judicial manipulation, is the latest evidence of how deep this infiltration runs. The timing, the venue in Oyo State (a PDP stronghold under Governor Seyi Makinde, who hosted the convention), and the outcome all point to external influences pulling strings to keep the PDP fractured and ineffective.
Why else would a national convention, attended by delegates from across Nigeria, be so easily dismantled? It’s no secret that Wike has been at war with the party’s core leadership since losing the 2023 presidential nomination, and his maneuvers have now handed control to a caretaker body that aligns with his interests – interests that suspiciously mirror those of the APC.
Charge to PDP Members
To my fellow PDP members who still hold onto hope: there is none left in this party for now, at least not until after the 2027 elections. The opposition has been neutralized from within. With Wike’s grip tightening through legal battles and backroom deals, the PDP is reduced to a shadow of its former self , a tool for personal ambition rather than national progress. Any attempts at revival before 2027 will likely be thwarted by more court injunctions, factional fights, and divided loyalties.
We’ve seen this playbook before: endless litigation that drains resources, sows confusion, and alienates voters. The party is sold out, plain and simple, and continuing to fight within it only plays into the hands of those who orchestrated this mess.
Instead, let’s redirect our energies as patriots and consider building alternative platforms or supporting independent voices that can genuinely challenge the status quo. The PDP’s current state serves only to prop up the ruling party by providing a weak, divided facade of opposition.
And to Nyesom Wike himself
Your “victories” may feel sweet now, but history has a way of catching up. You’ve traded the soul of the PDP for personal gain, aligning with Tinubu in a move that undermines the very democracy you once claimed to champion. Be assured, the outcome of these horrible actions will manifest in no distant time.
I wish you good health to witness it all the backlash from betrayed allies, the judgment of the Nigerian people, and the inevitable isolation that comes from such treachery. The wheel turns, and yours is spinning faster than you think.
This is not the end of progressive politics in Nigeria, but it is a pause for the PDP.
Let’s mourn what was lost, but more importantly, let’s prepare for what comes next outside the chains of a sold-out party.
E-signed: Hon Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and A Better Judicial System
