The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has moved to heal deep internal wounds and boost its chances in the 2027 polls by conceding to major demands from Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Party sources say the agreement is part of a wider plan to unify the PDP and calm long-standing grievances.
Wike had been firm on three points — zoning the 2027 presidential ticket to the South, appointing Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, and enforcing the South-South/South-East zoning convention.
“The party has sat down and agreed to address everything Wike wants. He wants Anyanwu as the secretary of the party, to allow it to proceed. He wants a declaration from the party leaders that the presidential ticket will be zoned to the South. The party has accepted this. So, on what basis will Wike now fight the party? There’s no basis,” a senior source reportedly told an online news agency.
The Decline of the G5
The decision comes amid discontent over the weakening of the once-powerful G5, a group of governors who opposed Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s leadership and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid in 2023.
Formed before the last elections, the G5 — Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) — pushed for a shift in party leadership.
Now reduced to three, the bloc has lost steam. “The G5 was initially a strong force, but it’s now a G3. Makinde left first, then Ortom. Wike is now left with Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu, but their influence has significantly diminished. Even if they still call themselves the G5 or G3, they are no longer a formidable force politically,” another insider reportedly remarked.
2027 Power Games and Jonathan Factor
Party insiders see the Wike deal as key to keeping control of the South-South and South-East ahead of the PDP’s November convention, where zoning and leadership will be decided.
Attention is also on former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose silence over 2027 keeps speculation alive. Some believe that pairing him with former Kano governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso could dramatically alter the race.
“Jonathan can destabilise the PDP if he enters the race. But if he stands up and says, ‘Kwankwaso is my running mate for 2027,’ that would be the end of it. You can’t stop them. Jonathan has no issues in the South-East and South-South, even with Obi. He’s the only one who can truly influence Obi not to run,” a source said.
One senior PDP figure pointed to what he called the Northern political bloc’s “structural advantage” during elections.
“The Hausa-Fulani political bloc is far more sophisticated than others. Nigeria is one of the few countries that holds elections on a Saturday. That allows key political blocs, especially in the north, to hold decision-making meetings on Fridays. This tradition has given them a distinct advantage, and it’s one of the reasons they’ve maintained such a stronghold on power,” he explained.
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