The political atmosphere within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is heating up ahead of its national convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde announced that southern PDP leaders had reached “far-reaching decisions” aimed at repositioning the party and preparing it to challenge the ruling APC in future elections.

Makinde stressed that the meeting was not about any individual—including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a former PDP strongman—but about wider consultations and unity.

“Democracy is about inclusivity. We’re trying to rebuild the PDP into a credible alternative for Nigerians. Before we start talking about zoning or presidential candidates, we must first have a strong, united party,” Makinde said.

The meeting drew heavyweight attendance, including Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Enugu Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai (representing Governor Peter Mbah), PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, and several former governors and senators.

Makinde listed the broad representation as proof of the South’s seriousness about reviving the PDP.

However, not everyone is on board. A group of PDP leaders loyal to Nyesom Wike dismissed the Ibadan gathering as “illegal and illegitimate.” In a strongly worded statement, state chairmen from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, and Imo accused the organisers of excluding key officers and stakeholders, warning that such moves risked undermining the party’s unity.

They urged the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) to disregard any outcomes from the Ibadan meeting.

But another group, the Conference of Professionals in PDP (CP-PDP), defended the gathering, saying it was properly convened with the mandate of the party’s NEC. They alleged that those opposing the summit were being influenced by a senior APC minister seeking to destabilise the PDP ahead of its convention.

For now, the southern PDP leaders insist the focus is not on zoning or presidential ambitions, but on rebuilding trust and cohesion within the party. With convention season drawing closer, all eyes will be on how these internal divisions play out.