The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is poised to receive the zoning committee’s report at its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today in Abuja, a critical step amid ongoing tensions over the party’s upcoming national convention. The NEC session, scheduled for 2 pm, will review recommendations from the zoning committee chaired by Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, with Zamfara’s Dauda Lawal as vice chairman and Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang as secretary.
Sources confirm the committee proposes maintaining the current zoning arrangement, allowing the North and South to retain their existing positions. “The zonal formula remains unchanged. The South has further micro-zoned their offices among the geopolitical zones, while the North will finalise its micro-zoning after today’s NEC,” explained a National Working Committee insider.
At last week’s PDP South stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, key offices were allocated: Deputy National Chairman and National Publicity Secretary to the South-South, National Secretary and National Auditor to the South-West, and Deputy National Secretary and Financial Secretary to the South-East. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State influenced the South-West allocations, securing the National Secretary post for Oyo, while Akwa Ibom claimed the Publicity Secretary slot.
The current NWC tenure under Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum expires in December. To forestall factionalism, the 101st NEC approved scheduling the National Elective Convention for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri will chair the convention committee, supported by Osun’s Ademola Adeleke as vice chairman and Enugu’s Peter Mbah as secretary.
However, the zoning and convention plan has met resistance, notably from Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who cautioned that disregarding the South-South congress outcome in Calabar could spark fresh unrest. “Before you talk about the convention, resolve the matter. If not, there will be a crisis,” Wike warned during a TV interview.
Some southern leaders loyal to Wike, led by House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, have rejected the Lagos micro-zoning meeting’s decisions. Conversely, PDP youth leaders nationwide have expressed full support for NEC decisions. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Forum of PDP Youth Leaders chairman Jamilu Kalshingi stated, “We stand firmly with the party’s leaders on zoning and convention arrangements. Nothing will derail the approved plans.”
Kalshingi dismissed Wike’s objections as unfounded, noting, “He is just another party member. NEC and NWC decisions are final.” The youth leaders urged aggrieved members to remain within the party, praising Damagum’s NWC, the Board of Trustees helmed by Senator Adolphus Wabara, and the PDP Governors’ Forum chaired by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed for fostering unity.
