Nigeria’s major opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, began a fresh process of rebuilding with the inauguration of the National Elective Convention Zoning Committee in Abuja.
The Committee was inaugurated to work out the zoning of offices ahead of the November 15 and 16 national convention to elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
The 46-member committee is headed by Governor Diri Douye of Bayelsa State, with his Zamfara and Plateau counterparts, Dauda Lawal and Caleb Mutfwang as vice chairman and secretary, respectively.
The committee’s tasks include the zoning of offices of the NWC, a major organ that manages the day-to-day affairs of the political party.
The Committee’s task can make or mar the progress and the chances of the party during the 2027 general election, depending on how it is handled.
The party had, since 1999, introduced the current zoning of political offices, including the Presidency and other offices.
Traditionally, the party had ensured that the region that produces the party’s National Chairman does not also produce the Presidential candidate.
The offices are zoned to reflect and enhance the nation’s geopolitical balance.
It will be recalled that the crisis that engulfed the party after the 2022 presidential primary came as a result of the refusal of Iyorchia Ayu, the then National Chairman, to resign, after Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the FCT, had insisted on Ayu’s resignation. His refusal to resign led to some governors, led by Wike, abandoning the party and pitching their support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2023 presidential election.
Osita Okereke, a chieftain of the party, while speaking with the BDSunday, described the committee as “important,” adding that “It will lay a solid foundation for the future of this party.”
According to Okereke, “In the coming days and months ahead, we expect this committee to be a catalyst that will bring back that life that people have claimed that we have not.
“We believe in the capacity of the Chairman of this committee to do justice in ensuring that the zoning is done appropriately to the satisfaction of all members of the party
“The Committee’s task can make or mar the progress and the chances of the party in future elections, including the 2027 general election.”
Okechukwu Osuoha, PDP Deputy Legal Adviser, while speaking with BDSunday, stressed that the committee “has a great responsibility to ensure that the party not only survive its current situation, but strives to reclaim its position as the ruling party.”
He stated that the committee has been mandated to ensure that the party promotes “justice, fairness and competence.”
“The offices are zoned to reflect the nation’s geopolitical balance, guarantee equity, fairness and justice,” he said.
He warned that the committee must help to avoid some of the ills that brought crises to the party after the 2023 general election.
Governor Diri said that he understands the responsibility that has been placed before him and the committee members.
He described the assignment as a “huge responsibility that will be handled with commitment and dedication.”
To achieve success, he said that the committee would “consult, partner with stakeholders of the party and be fair and just in its decisions.
“We will be consultative. We will partner and be inclusive in arriving at a fair and just formula for our party. Thank you for finding us worthy to discharge this assignment, and we will do it to the best of our abilities,” he said.
Jerry Gana, a founding father of the party, while speaking on the tasks before the committee, noted that “experience has to come to bear from the selection of the members of the committee. A lot of institutional memory was imputed into that committee. And we believe we will do the right thing.”
The committee is expected to submit its report, latest by August 25th, ahead of the National Convention coming up on the 15 and 16 of November, 2027.
Gana, while reflecting the factors that led to the establishment of the party, said it was to ensure “a free and democratic society in which the powers and actions of government are lawful, and where those in authority are held accountable for their actions.
“Our party is established to raise a political leadership that is exemplary; selfless and honest, creative people and leadership with a clear vision and inspiring, imaginative, energetic and resourceful, with a huge capacity and wisdom to mobilise the massive resources of Nigeria to transform both the people and the nation into a modern, developed society.”
Gana also said the committee must reflect on the philosophy of the PDP’s founding fathers.
“They must be guided by the fundamental ideals, values and clear objectives,” he said.
According to him, “The founding fathers were not merely motivated by the desire to capture political power, but by a strong resolve to restore democracy, to re-establish civil rule, and to re-activate the transformation process for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The strategy of power shift. It was correctly argued that we must not only be democrats but patriotic nation-builders. In building our nation, we must always remember to promote justice, fairness and equity.
“They must also ensure that their recommendations help to ensure a smooth National Convention for our great party, so that we can elect a fresh set of party officers for the next four years.
“We must also ensure a transparent and credible National Convention that will set a gold standard for internal party democracy.
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“The convention must be transparent, accountable and reflective of our democratic ideals. No more backroom deals or impositions.
“Delegates should freely elect a new National Working Committee (NWC); men and women of proven integrity, competence, and unwavering loyalty to the ideals of PDP. The new NWC should be the engine room of our rebuilding, repositioning and resurgence of the PDP. We must resolve to present a popular, credible and highly experienced presidential candidate.
“From our renewed foundation, we should conduct a fair process to produce our Presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election. We should present to Nigerians not just a candidate, but a visionary leader- a tested and trusted patriot, a proven solution-provider, with a huge capacity and character to rescue Nigeria.
“The renewed PDP will soon develop and present to Nigerians a practical, solutions-driven manifesto. This new manifesto will not just be a document of promises, but a national recovery. We must return the PDP to its grassroots: We must ensure power to the people. This is our renewal. This is our resurgence. The future is bright and promising.”
