• 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:

  • Army Dislodges Bandits in Taraba Forests Under Operation Lafiya Nakowa
  • How Irabor’s Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko Haram
  • Nigerian Army Denies Losing Weapons to Bandits in Kwara Operation

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

How Irabor’s Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko Haram

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani

Uba Sani Releases ₦2.3bn for Retirees and Families of Deceased Workers

Hajj Exercise Around Ka'abah

Group Urges CBN to Scrap 2% Service Charge on Hajj Fare to Reduce Pilgrimage Cost

Kano Gov’t Investigates Alleged Diversion of N4bn Dala Inland Dry Port Funds

ACF

ACF Warns of Alleged Plot to Cripple Dangote Refinery, Urges FG Intervention

Troops Neutralise Terrorists, Repel Boko Haram Attack in Borno

GWA Award Winners 2025

PHOTOS: Nigeria Customs, IMPR Bag Back-to-Back Golden World Award at IPRA 70th Anniversary

S/Arabia-Trained Graduates to Begin Forum on Sustainable Development

Christian Genocide and the Conspiracy against Nigeria By Femi Fani-Kayode

We Arrested 450 Terrorists, Rescued 180 Abducted Victims in One Month – Military

NSCDC Mining marshals

Mining Marshals Arrests 5 Illegal Miners in Niger, Seize Logistics

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun

STEP-BY-STEP: How to Apply for New Digital Tinted Glass Permit as Police Begin Enforcement

Recent Posts

  • Army Dislodges Bandits in Taraba Forests Under Operation Lafiya Nakowa
  • How Irabor’s Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko Haram
  • Nigerian Army Denies Losing Weapons to Bandits in Kwara Operation
  • Uba Sani Releases ₦2.3bn for Retirees and Families of Deceased Workers
  • Group Urges CBN to Scrap 2% Service Charge on Hajj Fare to Reduce Pilgrimage Cost
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Army Dislodges Bandits in Taraba Forests Under Operation Lafiya NakowaHow Irabor's Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko HaramNigerian Army Denies Losing Weapons to Bandits in Kwara OperationUba Sani Releases ₦2.3bn for Retirees and Families of Deceased WorkersGroup Urges CBN to Scrap 2% Service Charge on Hajj Fare to Reduce Pilgrimage CostNDLEA Dismantles Cocaine Cartels Behind UK Shipments, Arrests Suspects, Destroys 25,000kg Skunk NationwideKano Gov't Investigates Alleged Diversion of N4bn Dala Inland Dry Port FundsACF Warns of Alleged Plot to Cripple Dangote Refinery, Urges FG InterventionTroops Neutralise Terrorists, Repel Boko Haram Attack in BornoPHOTOS: Nigeria Customs, IMPR Bag Back-to-Back Golden World Award at IPRA 70th AnniversaryTroops Nab Terrorists’ Logistics, Drug Suppliers in BornoS/Arabia-Trained Graduates to Begin Forum on Sustainable DevelopmentChristian Genocide and the Conspiracy against Nigeria By Femi Fani-KayodeWe Arrested 450 Terrorists, Rescued 180 Abducted Victims in One Month - MilitaryOver 100 Jerrycans of Petrol Seized as Police Foil Smuggling to Niger Republic
X whatsapp