Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have given conditions for the party’s forthcoming national convention, insisting that the national chairmanship must remain in the north-central zone.
Gatekeepers News reports that last month, the party’s national executive committee (NEC) announced that the zoning arrangement for national working committee (NWC) positions adopted in 2021 would still apply for the November convention.
Under that arrangement, the chairmanship was zoned to the north and further narrowed to the north-central, producing Iyorchia Ayu from Benue.
His tenure was, however, cut short after a court upheld his suspension, paving the way for Umar Damagum, then the deputy national chairman (north), to assume leadership.
On July 24, NEC approved Ibadan, Oyo state, as host city for the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16. On August 25, the committee confirmed Damagum, from Yobe in the north-east, as substantive chairman.
Although Wike denied being invited to the NEC meeting where these decisions were taken, a letter later showed he was invited.
In a communiqué issued after its meeting on Monday night in Abuja, the Wike group outlined a set of demands before it would support the convention.
It asked the PDP to conduct fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states, to recognise the south-south congress held in Calabar, and to immediately conduct the Ekiti state local government congresses in line with existing court orders.
The communique reads, “In the spirit of unity and progress, and mindful of the party’s historical role as a custodian of Nigeria’s democratic aspirations, we considered it imperative and expedient to make the following observations and convey our demands to the party leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) as we prepare for the National Convention.”
The group warned that unity cannot be built on disenfranchisement, exclusion, or the neglect of valid judicial pronouncements. A credible National Convention must be anchored in transparency, fairness, respect for the rule of law, and inclusivity.
It added, “We call on the National Working Committee to urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states, in line with judgments of the courts.”
“That a fresh and legitimate South-East Zonal Congress should be conducted. That the outcome of the valid and legitimate South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State and recognised by the court be respected.”
“That the Ekiti State Local Government Areas Congress should be conducted immediately, in obedience to the subsisting court judgement.”
On the issue of zoning, the group maintained, “That on zoning of party offices, whereas; we agree with the zoning committee’s recommendations, which was adopted by NEC that status quo remains, we further, and very strongly hold that there should be no form of micro-zoning for peace and stability within the party.”
“Consequently, the National Chairman of the party should remain in the North-Central in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention.”
It warned that failure to meet these demands would render the convention invalid, as legitimate members would be disenfranchised.
Those present at the meeting included Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, PDP national secretary; former Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); and Kingsley Chinda.
Also present was minority leader of the House of Representatives; and Martins Ameawhule, suspended speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, among others.
