The war of words inside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken another twist as a top aide to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, clapped back at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his recent remarks.

Makinde, speaking after the Southwest zoning consultative summit in Lagos, had dismissed Wike’s position on zoning, saying he would not stoop to the “gutter level” of the former Rivers governor.

“Personally, when people go low, or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them,” Makinde had said, while stressing that PDP is still alive and that the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) would decide on zoning matters during its meeting on Monday.

But Wike’s media aide, Olayinka, fired back on X, challenging the Oyo governor to be bold enough to face Wike directly.

His post read: “The brave must never give his ears to the murmuring of the coward until he grows enough balls to be able to speak directly.”

The back-and-forth comes amid tension in the PDP over zoning. Wike’s camp has rejected the outcome of the Southern Leaders zoning consultative summit, which favored positions opposed by his allies.

Meanwhile, a zoning committee led by Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, is expected to present a formula for sharing the 19 National Working Committee (NWC) positions between the North and the South at the upcoming NEC meeting. The meeting will also decide the party’s next steps as it battles internal divisions.