PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: A former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and current chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on what he described as a successful and historic elective national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
Eze said the conduct of the convention, despite what he termed sustained pressure from “anti-democratic and anti-party forces,” was a victory for Nigeria’s fragile democracy and a decisive step toward preserving multiparty politics in the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, the former PDP spokesman, who is also a founding member of the party from its formation in 1998, said the Ibadan convention represented “a major setback” to alleged attempts to weaken opposition parties and foist a one-party system on Nigeria.
“I congratulate genuine leaders of the PDP for the successful conduct of the Ibadan elective convention,” Eze said. “In spite of the unpatriotic efforts of anti-party forces and undemocratic elements led by Minister Nyesom Wike to thwart the convention, the will of God prevailed.”
Eze accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and his associates of working in concert with the ruling APC to destabilise the PDP, describing the actions as “unacceptable, diabolic and unpatriotic.” He argued that it was ironic for individuals who rose to national prominence on the PDP platform to now be allegedly working against the party’s survival.
Reacting to the outcome of the convention, which saw the expulsion of Wike and several others over alleged anti-party activities, Eze said the decision was bold, timely and necessary to sanitise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Not minding that some of us are no longer members of the party we laboured to build, it would be irresponsible for any patriot to stand aloof and allow a few individuals to destroy a major opposition party for personal gain,” he stated.
He expressed full support for the expulsion of Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and others, citing what he described as persistent acts of indiscipline, internal sabotage and litigation against the collective interest of the party.
Eze commended elder statesman Chief Bode George for moving the motion for the expulsions, which was seconded by the Bauchi State PDP Chairman, and praised the party leadership for issuing expulsion letters to the affected members, describing the move as a firm signal that indiscipline would no longer be tolerated.
He also applauded key PDP leaders and governors, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, as well as former PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
According to Eze, the Ibadan convention was “a perfect Christmas gift to Nigeria and Nigerians,” particularly to the founding fathers of the PDP, both living and deceased, including late Dr Alex Ekwueme, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Solomon Lar, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Bola Ige and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma.
He alleged that Wike used the PDP as a political bargaining chip during the 2023 general election and was subsequently rewarded with a ministerial appointment, adding that the current efforts to weaken the party were aimed at sustaining relevance ahead of 2027.
“The success of the Ibadan convention has rattled Wike and other co-undemocratic forces. They do not want a strong opposition. Their agenda is to kill the PDP and actualise a one-party state,” Eze said.
He maintained that the emergence of a new National Executive Committee signalled a rebirth of the PDP and a renewed political order capable of checking excesses in governance.
Eze also criticised the mobilisation of supporters to the PDP national secretariat by Wike’s camp days after the convention, describing it as shameful and an affront to the legacy of the party’s founders.
He cautioned Nigerians and political stakeholders to be wary of what he described as Wike’s brand of politics, warning that it poses a danger to democratic growth if left unchecked.
The APC chieftain further commended the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi, for affirming the legality of the PDP convention despite conflicting court orders. He agreed with Amadi’s position that the leadership crisis within the PDP was worsened by the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act decisively and the issuance of contradictory ex parte court orders.
Eze concluded by calling on the judiciary and INEC to uphold independence and fairness in the discharge of their constitutional duties, regardless of political pressure, while urging the PDP leadership, under its National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, to continue repositioning the party and explore strategic alliances capable of strengthening opposition politics ahead of 2027.
