The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its approval of the North-East and South-East Zonal Congresses, dismissing a widely circulated disclaimer as false and unauthorized. The National Organizing Secretary (NOS), Hon. Umar M. Bature, issued a public notice on February 21, 2025, clarifying that the National Working Committee (NWC) never disapproved the congresses and condemning the fake disclaimer as an attempt to destabilize the party.
According to Hon. Bature, the misleading statement, which falsely claimed that the NWC had not sanctioned the congresses, did not originate from him or any authorized party source. He firmly denied issuing or authorizing the disclaimer and emphasized that the NWC had, in fact, approved the South-East and North-East Zonal Congresses during its meeting on February 20, 2025. This approval was publicly announced by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in an official press statement.
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Describing the fake disclaimer as “strange, highly embarrassing, and obviously intended to cause confusion,” Hon. Bature revealed that he had filed a formal complaint with security agencies to track down those responsible for what he termed a “criminal action.” Investigations are already underway to identify the perpetrators behind the misinformation.
Hon. Bature called on all PDP members, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the general public to disregard the fraudulent disclaimer and rely only on official statements. He reaffirmed that the North-East and South-East Zonal Congresses would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, February 22, 2025, while the South-South Zonal Congress has been postponed to a later date to be communicated by the party.
This clarification comes amid heightened political tension within the PDP, as party members prepare for critical congresses that will shape the party’s leadership at the zonal level. The swift response from the party’s leadership underscores its commitment to maintaining order and transparency in its electoral processes.
