Tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Thursday as the camp loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected a Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative meeting convened in Lagos. The meeting, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, is part of ongoing consultations by the party’s zoning committee ahead of the November National Elective Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State. Reliable sources within the party confirmed that the PDP Governors’ Forum will meet in Zamfara State on Saturday to address the escalating disputes and to fine-tune strategies for a smooth convention.
The Lagos gathering, tagged “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” was strongly criticized by Wike’s allies who described it as illegal, divisive, and unrepresentative of the party’s collective interests. In a statement jointly signed by PDP chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states, alongside several lawmakers and former governors, the faction dismissed any resolutions from the meeting, saying it was convened without proper consultation and excluded critical stakeholders. They argued that such secrecy undermines internal democracy and threatens the foundation of the party.
Specifically, the aggrieved leaders noted that state chairmen, national officers, and senior lawmakers from the South-East and South-South were sidelined. They further accused the zoning committee of promoting the narrow ambitions of a few individuals at the expense of unity. The signatories, which included Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, and Senators George Sekibo and Mao Ohuabunwa, warned the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) to disregard the Lagos resolutions or face stiff resistance from their bloc.
In response, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, a strong backer of the planned Ibadan convention, dismissed the objections as needless distractions. He maintained that the Lagos meeting was part of broader efforts to reposition the PDP for national relevance, stressing that final decisions on zoning would be made at the NEC meeting on Monday. Makinde, in a veiled rebuke of Wike’s loyalists, said he would not descend into “the gutters” with those politicizing the process, insisting the ultimate goal should be about delivering hope and credible leadership to Nigerians.
Despite the disagreements, the zoning committee, led by Governor Diri, is pressing ahead with consultations to recommend how the 19 National Working Committee positions will be shared between the North and South. Political watchers say Saturday’s Zamfara meeting of PDP governors will be crucial in calming frayed nerves and determining whether the party can resolve its internal crisis in time for the Ibadan convention. For many, the outcome will not only shape PDP’s internal structure but also test its strength as Nigeria’s main opposition ahead of future elections.
