• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home General 2027: Wike, Atiku and the PDP’s Ticking Clock
  • General
  • Government

2027: Wike, Atiku and the PDP’s Ticking Clock

By
Prnigeria
-
May 22, 2025
Wike & Atiku
Wike & Atiku

2027: Wike, Atiku and the PDP’s Ticking Clock

By Kabir Akintayo,

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is navigating one of the most defining chapters in its history since its fall from federal power in 2015.

Once regarded as Africa’s largest political party, the PDP now finds itself entangled in a slow-burning internal crisis—one deepened, if not accelerated, by the actions of one of its most controversial figures: Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Although Wike remains, at least nominally, a member of the PDP, he has publicly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition. He even attended a recent high-level PDP strategy meeting convened to resolve the party’s protracted leadership and structural problems.

But rather than foster reconciliation, the gathering ended on a sour note, with Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, accusing the APC of stoking internal discord within the party.

The accusation, though not named, pointed unmistakably at Wike—a man increasingly seen as the APC’s Trojan horse within the PDP. Wike’s grip on the PDP, particularly in the South-South, cannot be ignored.

A two-term governor with strong grassroots machinery, he once wielded kingmaker status in the post-2015 era. However, the cracks began to appear after he lost the 2022 presidential primaries to Atiku Abubakar.

Wike had consistently argued that the PDP’s presidential ticket should have been zoned to the South, especially after President Buhari’s eight years in power. His demand reflected a broader expectation of equity within the party.

He believed the South had been shortchanged, particularly after the 2019 primaries in which he backed Aminu Tambuwal—only to be blindsided in 2022 when Tambuwal stepped down mid-contest to support Atiku, swinging key delegates Atiku’s way.

The final rupture came with the selection of the party’s vice-presidential candidate. Although a committee recommended Wike for the slot, Atiku opted for Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa instead. That decision was perceived by Wike as a snub—and he did not take it lightly.

In response, Wike formed the now-infamous G5, or Integrity Group—a bloc of five aggrieved PDP governors. Their open opposition to Atiku in the 2023 elections and subtle alignment with Tinubu fractured the PDP’s internal cohesion at a moment when unity was desperately needed.

Though Wike has not formally defected from the PDP, his acceptance of a ministerial role in Tinubu’s cabinet is viewed by many party members as a defacto exit.

Yet, the PDP has hesitated to discipline him, fearing the ripple effects such a move might cause—particularly defections from loyalists in the South-South, a region that historically serves as the party’s financial and electoral backbone.

Read Also:

  • IGP Decorates 16 Senior Officers, Harps on Integrity, Professionalism
  • INEC Chairman Amupitan Appoints Multi-Award Winner Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary
  • Coup Whispers and the Crisis of Trust By Haroon Aremu

That hesitation is proving costly. Today, the PDP is split between Wike’s faction—buoyed by federal appointments and influence in Rivers and surrounding states—and the Atiku camp, which maintains a foothold in the North and among older party elites.

In Rivers State, Wike’s continued relevance is further cemented by the apparent reconciliation with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, following months of political feuding. If Wike succeeds in retaining influence over Rivers’ political structure, and continues to sway opinion in neighboring states, the PDP risks losing its most reliable zone to the APC.

The ripple effects are already visible. Defections and public endorsements of Tinubu’s second term have come from figures once loyal to the PDP, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, and legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly.

The situation becomes even more alarming when one considers the posture of Akwa Ibom’s Governor Umo Eno, who recently likened the PDP to a “damaged aircraft that refuses to fly.” His support for Tinubu, alongside Senate President Godswill Akpabio, signals another crack in the PDP’s southern wall.

At the center of the party’s northern bloc is Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s most persistent presidential contender. However, after multiple unsuccessful bids and a failure to deliver victory even with strong traditional backing in 2023, fatigue is setting in.

If the northern establishment begins to view Atiku as unelectable, and no viable alternative emerges, the PDP may face further fragmentation.

There is growing talk of a mega-coalition involving the PDP, Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and other opposition groups. In theory, such an alliance could present a formidable challenge to the APC. In practice, however, deep-seated rivalries and unresolved internal battles—especially within the PDP and LP—make that option difficult to actualize.

Peter Obi’s name continues to surface in speculations about a possible reunion with Atiku as running mate, a repeat of their 2019 ticket. While that pairing energized the youth vote back then, both parties currently deny any coalition talks, and legal and leadership tussles remain unresolved on both fronts.

Meanwhile, Wike continues to insist that the PDP must zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, positioning himself—or at least his allies—as potential beneficiaries. This demand, while popular in some quarters, is widely seen as a calculated effort to derail Atiku’s ambition, and may ultimately push the former Vice President out of the party.

What lies ahead for the PDP is not just another electoral cycle—it is a decisive moment that will determine whether the party evolves or collapses under the weight of unresolved contradictions. Wike’s dual allegiance, Atiku’s diminishing appeal, and the party’s inertia in enforcing discipline present a cocktail of challenges that cannot be ignored.

To survive 2027 and beyond, the PDP must find the courage to confront its internal demons, embrace reform, and offer Nigerians a clear and united alternative. Anything less will cement its slide into political irrelevance.

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Atiku
  • PDP
  • Wike
Previous articleThink Tank Endorses NUPRC’s Projection of $600bn Africa Energy Investment
Next articleIPOB’s ESN is Illegal, Unlike Amotekun — DSS Witness Tells Court
Prnigeria
Prnigeria

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

INEC Chairman Amupitan Appoints Multi-Award Winner Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with newly appointed service chiefs

Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of New Service Chiefs 

FG Moves to Empower Women in Climate Fight through Green Women Platform

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

170 Foreigners Seek Application for Nigerian Citizenship

The National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Anambra Guber Poll: We’ll Deal Decisively With Trouble Makers — Ribadu Warns

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

JUST IN: Tinubu Writes Senate, Seeks Confirmation of Newly Appointed Service Chiefs

Military Troops in Action

Troops Recover 70 Rustled Livestock in Katsina, Restore De-escalate Farmers-Herders Clash in Sokoto

DG NITDA Mallam Inuwa Kashifu at the event

NITDA Boss Pushes for Nigerian Rules on TikTok to Protect Local Culture

NAF, S’Africa Deepen Air Force Collaboration to Enhance Regional Security

Barau Jibrin and the Search for a Constitution That Works By Ozumi Abdul

Army Eliminates Four ISWAP Logistics Suppliers in Konduga

Professor Ali Isa Pantami

At UK Conference: Prof Pantami Urges Islamic Banks to Lead Global Digital Economy with Ethical Finance

Recent Posts

  • IGP Decorates 16 Senior Officers, Harps on Integrity, Professionalism
  • INEC Chairman Amupitan Appoints Multi-Award Winner Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary
  • Coup Whispers and the Crisis of Trust By Haroon Aremu
  • Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of New Service Chiefs 
  • A’Ibom Police Dismantle Illegal Firearms Factory, Arrest 2 Suspects
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
IGP Decorates 16 Senior Officers, Harps on Integrity, ProfessionalismINEC Chairman Amupitan Appoints Multi-Award Winner Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press SecretaryCoup Whispers and the Crisis of Trust By Haroon AremuTinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of New Service Chiefs A'Ibom Police Dismantle Illegal Firearms Factory, Arrest 2 SuspectsFG Moves to Empower Women in Climate Fight through Green Women Platform170 Foreigners Seek Application for Nigerian CitizenshipBadaru to Service Chiefs: Strengthen Unity, Deliver ResultsAnambra Guber Poll: We’ll Deal Decisively With Trouble Makers — Ribadu WarnsJUST IN: Tinubu Writes Senate, Seeks Confirmation of Newly Appointed Service ChiefsRethinking Policing in Lagos By Adebisi A. OyeshakinTroops Recover 70 Rustled Livestock in Katsina, Restore De-escalate Farmers-Herders Clash in SokotoPolice, Vigilantes Repel Armed Attack in Anambra, Neutralize OneNITDA Boss Pushes for Nigerian Rules on TikTok to Protect Local CultureTinubu Holds First Meeting with New Service Chiefs in Aso Rock 
X whatsapp