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The Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders, a group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called on the party to restrict the contest for the national chairmanship position to the North-Central region.
Last month, the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) confirmed that the existing zoning arrangement for National Working Committee (NWC) positions, established in 2021, would remain in effect for the national convention scheduled for November.
Under that arrangement, the party’s chairmanship had initially been zoned to the North in 2021, later narrowed to the North-Central zone.
Iyorchia Ayu from Benue (North-Central) was elected chairman under this zoning, but his tenure was cut short after a court upheld his suspension.
Umar Damagum, then deputy national chairman (North), subsequently assumed the role of acting chairman.
On July 24, the PDP NEC approved Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, as the venue for the national convention, slated for November 15 and 16.
Later, on August 25, the NEC confirmed Umar Damagum, from Yobe State in the North-East, as the substantive national chairman.
Wike denied being invited to the NEC meeting where the venue and dates were approved; however, documentation showed that he had received an invitation.
Following a meeting in Abuja on Monday night, September 1, the Wike-led group issued a communiqué outlining conditions for supporting the upcoming national convention.
Among their demands, the group called for fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states and recognition of the South-South congress held in Calabar, Cross River State.
Additionally, they insisted that local government congresses in Ekiti State be conducted immediately in compliance with existing court orders.
“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 communiqué read.
“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.
“We call on the National Working Committee to urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra states, in line with court judgments. A fresh and legitimate South-East Zonal Congress should be conducted.
“The outcome of the valid and legitimate South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, and recognised by the court must be respected.
“The Ekiti State Local Government Areas Congress should be conducted immediately, in obedience to the subsisting court judgment.
“On zoning of party offices, while we agree with the zoning committee’s recommendations adopted by NEC that the status quo remains, we 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.”
The group cautioned that any national convention held without adherence to its resolutions and demands would be considered invalid, disenfranchising legitimate party members.
Attendees of the meeting included Nyesom Wike; Samuel Anyanwu, PDP National Secretary; former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Kingsley Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; Martins Amehule, suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly; and several other party stakeholders.
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