Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were among the attendees at the national caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on Wednesday.
The meeting took place at the Bauchi governor’s lodge in the Asokoro district of Abuja, the nation’s capital, marking the first public encounter between Atiku and Wike since the PDP’s 2023 presidential primary election.
In the highly contested primary election, Atiku emerged victorious over Wike, securing the party’s presidential ticket. This encounter marked their first public meeting since then.
Following Atiku’s win, a group of five governors, known as the G5, called for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, who was then the national chairman of the party. However, Ayu refused to step down from his position.
Wike and his allies within the G5—Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo)—later emerged as a significant opposition force to Atiku during the 2023 presidential election. Their influence was believed to have contributed to the PDP’s defeat in the elections.
Since then, the rift within the party has persisted, leading to a prolonged crisis. The attendance of both Atiku and Wike at the PDP caucus meeting signals an attempt at reconciliation and unity within the party amid ongoing internal challenges.
