…insist North-Central must retain chairmanship position
…kick against micro zoning party positions, others
Ahead of the November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention, fresh crisis is brewing in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as a group loyal to Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, has given the party conditions for backing the convention
The group, comprising former governors including Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State Governor, under the aegis of PDP Eminent Leaders, issued a six-point demand, which the party must fulfill to get their support.
BusinessDay gathered that the meeting was also attended by Samuel Anyanwu, the PDP national secretary; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former governor of Enugu State, among other senior party members, ahead of the Tuesday’s inauguration of the party’s National Convention Planning Committee.
Ortom, who read the communique on behalf of the stakeholders after the meeting, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity and rule of law, stressing that these values must guide the party’s preparations for the convention.
The eminent leaders are also insisting on a revisit to some of the congresses in Ekiti, South-South and South-East to address contentious areas.
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“We, the Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having met to review the state of our great party and assessed the critical issues leading to the forthcoming National Convention, do hereby express our collective commitment to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law – values upon which the PDP was founded and upon which its survival depends”, the communique.
The leaders recalled the progress and historical roles the party had played as a custodian of Nigeria’s democratic aspirations and said it is imperative and expedient to make the observations and convey their demands to the party leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) as the party prepares for the national convention.
They warned against any manipulation of the process through exclusion or disregard for internal democracy and legal decisions. According to them, leadership positions must remain open and competitive, without micro-zoning or imposition.
The group demanded that the position of national chairman remain in the North-Central zone in line with the 2021 zoning arrangement.
They rejected any attempt to micro-zone party positions, calling instead for a level playing field. They also requested fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States, in compliance with court rulings, and called for a new South-East zonal congress to ensure proper representation.
The group urged the NWC to recognise the outcome of the South-South congress held in Calabar and demanded the immediate conduct of the pending Local Government congress in Ekiti State.
They warned that failure to address these issues would disenfranchise members and undermine the credibility of the convention.
The group maintained that the party’s ability to resolve its internal issues through transparent and lawful processes would determine its relevance in the national political space.
While reaffirming their loyalty to the PDP, the stakeholders urged the NWC to act swiftly and responsibly. They stated that the convention must be a turning point for the party, rooted in fairness, unity, and accountability.
They added that true unity cannot be achieved through exclusion or by ignoring judicial directives, and emphasized that the party’s survival depends on respect for its constitution and democratic principles.
