Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a breaking point, insisting that the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has “no legal basis” to operate within the party.

Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Mohammed said the ongoing power struggle now clearly favours the camp opposed to Wike.

As earlier reported by Gossip News Now , the PDP headquarters in Wadata Plaza turned into a battleground on Tuesday as two rival blocs fought for control.

One faction consisted of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, newly elected National Secretary Taofeek Arapaja, and other leaders produced at the Oyo State national convention held over the weekend.

The opposing side was the Wike-backed group led by Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary, who insists his tenure runs until December 8, 2025. That camp has rejected the Ibadan convention, calling it unconstitutional.

The tension intensified when Governor Makinde arrived at the secretariat with Arapaja and other party leaders — a move widely interpreted as the new leadership asserting its authority.

Wike, however, has continued to stand firmly behind Anyanwu, insisting no valid national secretary has been elected.

Security was heavily reinforced as the factions attempted to force entry into meeting venues, prompting police intervention to prevent a confrontation.

Governor Mohammed emphasised that the Oyo convention — which produced the new National Working Committee — was fully endorsed by the party’s top decision-making bodies, while the Wike-aligned faction lacked any legitimacy to challenge it.

He said: “We do not recognise any so-called BoT because it is an illegality. The media should help promote order and clarity so the public understands the truth, because what we are seeing from this faction is nothing but shenanigans and misinformation.”

He added: “We held a legitimate convention where certain individuals were expelled. Even INEC does not recognise them, yet they are being backed by the police to stage a sham BoT meeting.”

Bala Mohammed argued that the Wike-aligned faction lacks any legitimate foundation within the PDP, stressing that the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) cannot exist without a valid National Working Committee (NWC).

“The BoT is constituted by the NWC. They have no NWC and no constitution to stand on. Our constitution is clear—if you’re expelled, you’re expelled. It’s not about me or Seyi Makinde or any individual; it is the decision of a convention involving delegates from over 20 states. What you are seeing now is simply a showdown between good and bad,” he said.

Responding to the Wike group’s refusal to accept the convention’s outcome—and Anyanwu’s insistence that his tenure as National Secretary runs until December 2025—Mohammed said:
“The convention has already dissolved his tenure. A convention has the authority to dissolve any NWC anywhere.”

When asked whether the new chairman, Turaki, is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he replied:
“Yes, he is. INEC recognises him because the matter is grounded in law.”

He dismissed claims that INEC does not recognise the new leadership, insisting such rumours were invented by Wike.

“This is a fabrication by one man—Wike—who believes he can continue polluting the political space with gangsterism, animism, and illegalism. He isn’t even helping the current administration by behaving this way,” he added.

Mohammed noted that the overwhelming majority of the party’s elected officials stand with the new leadership.

“All the governors are here, all the senators, all the House of Representatives members. Why is the media giving attention to a splinter group trying to destroy the PDP, weaken the opposition, and ultimately undermine democracy? Their actions are driven by arrogance, ignorance, and impunity.”

He explained that the convention followed all legal procedures, including notifying INEC, which acknowledged receipt of the notice.

“The Constitution does not compel INEC to attend conventions; it only requires that we notify them. We sent the notice, they acknowledged it, and that is enough. Whether they choose to attend or not is their decision. All court orders have been set aside, so the convention stands as completely legal.”

On how the crisis may end if the Wike faction refuses to back down, Mohammed said:
“They are being propped up by the police—and the media also refuses to tell them the truth. But this is the end. Their era of hooliganism is over. They should leave us alone.”

He questioned Wike’s motives and loyalty to the PDP.

“Why must we continue engaging with him? He works with the APC openly. Why don’t you ask him why he believes it’s moral to remain in the PDP just to destroy it? How is it normal for him to serve another party while declaring that the PDP must not produce a candidate?”