PDP crisis deepens as Wike-loyalist installs parallel leadership in Bayelsa, Edo

The crisis rocking the South-South zone of Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated dramatically, following the appointment of parallel executive committees in Bayelsa and Edo states by a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

This latest move further entrenches the division within the party’s South-South structure, already split between two rival factions: one led by Chief Dan Orbih, with Wike’s backing, and the other loyal to Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, who is recognized by the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The genesis of the rift can be traced to the controversial Edo State governorship primary last year, where Orbih and his loyalists openly opposed the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the party’s officially endorsed flagbearer.

Tensions had been brewing between Orbih and former Governor Godwin Obaseki, culminating in Orbih’s suspension by the NWC over conduct deemed “embarrassing” and a violation of the party’s constitution.

Despite his suspension, Orbih proceeded to organize a South-South Zonal Congress in Calabar in February 2025, during which he was re-elected as the zone’s chairman.

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The Damagum-led NWC immediately dismissed the gathering as a “social event” and refused to recognize its outcomes, instead installing a caretaker committee chaired by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi to oversee the zone’s activities.

The battle for control flared anew in Bayelsa, where Wike’s loyalists attempted to organize a rally to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Bayelsa indigenes into federal positions.

However, the rally was halted by the state government citing security concerns, and a court injunction later restrained the event from holding.

Undeterred, Orbih’s faction—through its Zonal Working Committee (ZWC)—announced the appointment of new caretaker committees for Bayelsa and Edo states.

In Bayelsa, George Turnah has been named as the new caretaker chairman, while in Edo, the role will be taken up by Nosa Ogieva.

The announcement has drawn swift condemnation. The dissolved Bayelsa State PDP executive committee rejected the move, accusing the ZWC of operating outside the bounds of its authority.

In Edo, the existing faction led by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, backed by Governor Obaseki, similarly dismissed the new appointments as illegal, reiterating that only the National Working Committee holds the power to restructure state party organs.