Timothy Osadolor, a senior figure in the Wike faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has blamed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for worsening the party’s internal crisis. Osadolor made the claim during an interview with Punch ahead of the PDP’s contested national convention in Ibadan.
Osadolor, who serves as the party’s Deputy National Youth Leader, called Makinde’s reported 2027 presidential ambition a “personal political project” that is dividing the party. He warned that going ahead with the convention without first resolving outstanding grievances would deepen the split.
He said, “How can they even be talking about a presidential candidate from the South West when the one we want to kick out is from the South West? Governor Makinde should help this party by folding his presidential ambition in his pocket and join other leaders to rebuild the PDP.
“It is both laughable and mischievous for some people to be talking about convention in Ibadan as PDP members. Whatever they are going to do in Ibadan would be an early Christmas party organised by Governor Makinde and his friends in the PDP. It is certainly not a PDP national convention.
“Anybody who wants to talk about convention now must first talk about reconciliation in line with the judgment of Justice James Omotosho, which asked us to put our house in order. That ruling not only exposed our failing as a party but also directed us to back to our books and rules. If you cannot follow your own rules, how can you convince the voting public that you will abide by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)? It is arrogance for the PDP governors to be talking about a convention in Ibadan.”
Osadolor also responded to comments by party elder Bode George, saying the veteran should act above partisan disputes. He suggested that as a member of the Board of Trustees, Bode George should help heal divisions rather than favour one side.
Osadolor warned that continued internal fights could leave the PDP without clear leadership or force an automatic extension of the current National Working Committee under Abdulrahman Mohammed. He said the Mohammed-led team aims to protect the party from those driven mainly by personal ambition.
He denied claims that the Wike camp is trying to weaken the PDP to benefit President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, and maintained that the issue is about putting the party first before contesting national offices.
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