PDP Convention Sparks Uproar as Youth Group Blames Makinde for “Killing” the Party
A youth faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, known as the Concerned Youth Movement (CYM), has strongly criticized Governor Seyi Makinde, accusing him of having “killed and buried” the party following what it described as a flawed national convention held in Ibadan.
In a statement released on Sunday and signed by CYM’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Laide Ajao, the group condemned the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the convention. They argued that the lack of INEC involvement undermines the legitimacy of any leadership elected during the event, casting doubt on whether the PDP can present valid candidates in the 2027 elections.
CYM went as far as to call the convention “an early Christmas party in November,” accusing Makinde and his supporters of turning the gathering into a mere jamboree. The group also warned that the internal fractures exposed at the convention signal a fatal weakening of the party’s structure.
The youth movement urged all PDP aspirants and members who remain ambitious to abandon the party and defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where they believe they can start afresh.
They also questioned why certain governors were absent, criticizing Makinde for allegedly orchestrating decisions without wider buy-in. According to CYM, key past resolutions, including the expulsion of figures like Nyesom Wike, were made without the presence or awareness of the broader PDP leadership.
The controversy comes amid broader tension within the PDP, with some observers describing the convention as a “carnival of shame” and “lawlessness.”
Makinde, for his part, had earlier framed the convention as a turning point for the PDP. He told delegates in his welcome address that the outcome could rejuvenate the party’s national outlook.