Letter shows Wike was invited to PDP NEC meeting — despite his denial

On Wednesday, Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), said he was not invited to the national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

Wike spoke during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, and maintained that he did not know about the opposition party’s planned national convention, billed to take place on November 15 and 16.

The PDP NEC had, on July 24, approved Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, as the venue for the national convention to elect a new national working committee (NWC).

The NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the PDP, comprising state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the board of trustees (BoT), principal officers of the national assembly, all state chairpersons, members of the NWC, former governors, and founding members, among others.

When asked during the interview if he would attend or hold a parallel convention, Wike said he was not aware of the scheduled November event and was not invited to the NEC meeting where the decision was taken.

“I am not aware that they are going to a convention in Ibadan. As an NEC member, I have not been informed, nor have I been invited to the NEC meeting,” the FCT minister had said.

“If the team members say they are holding NEC, so be it. If no notice of meeting has been served on me as a member of the NEC, I have every right to challenge that, and no one can deny me my rights.”

But an invitation letter seen by TheCable shows that Wike was indeed invited to the NEC meeting.

The letter, dated July 10, 2025, was signed by Samuel Anyanwu, PDP national secretary, and addressed to the minister, inviting him to the 101st NEC meeting of the party.

The letter stated the date, time and venue of the meeting and was received by Wike’s office on July 18, duly acknowledged with a signature and stamp.

Earlier this month, Wike said the internal crisis in the PDP would not be over until the party recognises the outcome of the south-south zonal congress held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River.

The south-south zone of the PDP had, on February 22, re-elected Dan Orbih, an ally of Wike, as its chairman.

In March, the PDP NWC disowned the congress, saying it does not recognise Orbih’s election.