A fresh wave of controversy has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a pro-Wike faction declared Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as the party’s “National Leader.”

The announcement was made on Monday by George Turnah, secretary of the South-South caucus loyal to Wike, during an interview on Channels Television. According to Turnah, Wike’s position in President Bola Tinubu’s administration automatically elevates him above all other PDP members currently holding federal appointments.

Turnah defended the faction’s recognition of Wike, pointing to a weekend meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held at the minister’s Abuja residence—an event that drew strong criticism from the party’s mainstream leadership. He argued that the choice of venue was fully justified given Wike’s alleged status.

“If the PDP had a sitting president, no one would question holding BoT or NEC meetings in the Villa,” he said. “Right now, the highest-ranking PDP figure in the national government is Chief Nyesom Wike. That makes him our national leader, and that is why we met in his residence.”

Turnah also took aim at the faction aligned with former minister Kabiru Turaki, which enjoys the backing of several PDP governors and recently organized a National Convention in Ibadan. He dismissed that gathering as invalid, claiming that numerous states failed to send properly accredited delegates because they did not conduct the mandatory congresses.

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The deepening divide between the Wike-aligned bloc and the mainstream PDP leadership highlights the party’s escalating internal struggles, with both sides insisting they represent the legitimate structure of the opposition party.