Prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have insisted that the party must retain the zoning arrangement adopted during its 2021 national convention, stressing that the office of National Chairman should remain in the North Central.
The leaders, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, met in Abuja on Monday night under the platform of Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, which was read by former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom, the group demanded a fresh South-East Zonal Congress, as well as congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States. They also called for the conduct of a local government congress in Ekiti State.
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The stakeholders further insisted that the outcome of the South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, on February 22, 2025, which has already been recognised by the court, must be respected.
According to the communiqué, any failure to meet these conditions would amount to disenfranchising members of the party and render the proposed National Convention invalid.
Those present at the meeting included Wike; PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and four former governors—Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.
Also in attendance were House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule; North Central National Vice Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed; South-South National Vice Chairman, Dan Orbih; as well as state chairmen of the PDP from Abia, Benue, FCT, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers States.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
