Prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have issued conditions ahead of the party’s planned national convention, warning that failure to comply would render the exercise “invalid.”
Meeting late Monday night in Abuja under the banner of Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP, the group demanded the retention of the 2021 zoning formula, insisting that the position of national chairman must remain in the North-Central.
The stakeholders further called for the conduct of a fresh South-East zonal congress, new congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States, and the immediate holding of local government congresses in Ekiti State, in line with subsisting court orders.
They also insisted that the outcome of the South-South congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, on February 22, 2025, which was recognised by the courts, must be respected.
Reading the communiqué of the meeting, former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said the PDP stood “at a defining crossroads,” adding that the legitimacy of the forthcoming convention would rest on fairness, transparency, inclusivity, and adherence to judicial pronouncements.
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“The national chairman of the party should remain in the North-Central in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention,” the communiqué read.
However, the leaders warned that failure to comply with the above resolutions and demands shall render any purported national convention invalid, as legitimate members of the party would be disenfranchised.
Those present at the meeting included Wike, PDP National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, former Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Ortom, House of Representatives Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, as well as serving and former members of the National Assembly.
Also in attendance were the PDP National Vice Chairmen for the North-Central and South-South, Abdulrahman Mohammed and Dan Orbih, respectively, along with state chairmen of the party from Abia, Benue, FCT, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers.
The leaders said the PDP could only reclaim its pride of place as Nigeria’s leading opposition party if it rose above narrow interests and embraced inclusivity and justice.
“We remain steadfast in our loyalty to the party and resolute in our determination to work with all organs and leaders of the PDP to ensure that the forthcoming national convention becomes a watershed moment, a moment where unity triumphs over division, and justice prevails over impunity,” the communiqué added.
