Manny Ita –
Allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and former Ayo Fayose secured strategic victories in several state congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, signalling a significant shift in the internal balance of power within the opposition party.
In Bayelsa State, a candidate backed by the Wike political camp emerged as the new state chairman following the party’s congress, consolidating the influence of the FCT minister in the South-South state where the PDP remains politically dominant. Party officials said the congress proceeded amid tight security and the participation of delegates drawn from across the state’s local government areas.
A similar development occurred in Ekiti State where an associate of Fayose clinched the position of state chairman after securing the support of a majority of delegates. The outcome reinforces Fayose’s continued relevance in Ekiti politics despite being out of office for several years.
Party sources familiar with the congresses said the victories reflect ongoing realignments within the PDP as influential blocs attempt to consolidate control ahead of future party conventions and electoral contests. “These congresses show that grassroots structures are still very important. Whoever controls them has a strong voice in the direction of the party,” a senior PDP member involved in the process said.
The latest outcomes come against the backdrop of a deepening leadership crisis within the PDP following a ruling by the Court of Appeal which nullified the party’s previous national convention held in Ibadan. The judgment effectively threw the party’s national leadership structure into uncertainty and intensified internal contestations among major power blocs.
Political analysts say the results of the state congresses could influence the composition of delegates to any future national convention, a factor that may determine which faction eventually controls the party’s national machinery.
A party official in Bayelsa described the development as “a reflection of political realities within the PDP,” adding that the congress outcome “demonstrates that the structures aligned with Wike remain formidable in several states.”
Similarly, supporters of Fayose in Ekiti hailed the victory as evidence that the former governor still commands loyalty among party members at the grassroots level. One delegate said the result “shows that Fayose’s political network in Ekiti remains intact and capable of shaping the party’s direction.”
The internal contests come as the PDP grapples with rebuilding its organisational strength after losing the 2023 presidential election and facing persistent factional disputes across several states.
Observers note that with the next general election scheduled for 2027, the struggle for control of state party structures is likely to intensify as competing factions seek to position themselves ahead of future primaries and national leadership arrangements.
