In preparation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November, the camp loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected the Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.
This comes as a reputable source within the PDP National Working Committee informed the press that the PDP Governors’ Forum will meet in Zamfara on Saturday.
According to the source, the governors are likely to assemble in Gusau, the state capital, on Friday before deliberating the following day on important problems that must be handled to ensure a peaceful national convention in Ibadan.
It was gathered on Thursday that Wike’s camp is resolute in its bid to prevent PDP’s November convention from taking place, citing disputes over the zonal leadership of the South-South and South-East.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, other governors, and their allies are determined to ensure that the convention runs as scheduled and in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Despite these difficulties, the zoning committee, led by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, resumed its engagements across all regions as promised at its August 14 inauguration, including a meeting with Southern stakeholders in Lagos.
The 44-member group, chaired by Diri, is likely to propose a zoning mechanism for the 19 National Working Group slots divided between the North and South during the 102nd National Executive Committee meeting next Monday.
At the meeting, the NEC will determine whether to accept, reject, or modify the committee’s recommendations.
However, only hours before the Lagos Southern Zoning negotiations began, a few state chairmen, past governors, National Assembly members, and other key stakeholders joined Wike’s side and officially disassociated themselves from the event.
On Thursday, the PDP leaders, in a statement signed by party chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states, as well as National Assembly leaders and other stakeholders, dismissed “any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes” purportedly emanating from the meeting as “neither binding on, nor reflective of the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria.”
They slammed the Lagos conference, known as the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit”, claiming it was held without adequate consultation.
“The attention of the undersigned state chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party from the South and some critical stakeholders has been drawn to a meeting ‘Nicodemously’ summoned in Lagos today, 21st August 2025, by some persons purporting to do so on behalf of PDP members of the South tagged ‘PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit’, convened by the Admin Secretary, Zoning Committee of the PDP, at the behest of the Chairman Zoning Committee (H.E. Senator Duoye Diri) at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The claimed summit was organised in the name of Southern Nigeria’s three geopolitical zones: South-East, South-South, and South-West.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically dismiss any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from this meeting as neither binding on nor reflective of the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria. Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus,” the statement partly read.
The statement stated that the meeting, purportedly called by the Zoning Committee’s Administrative Secretary at the request of Chairman Diri, was “deeply disturbing” because key state chairmen, national officers, principal lawmakers, and previous governors were excluded.
“It is highly regrettable and indeed deeply disturbing that such a meeting was convened without the courtesy of inviting several state chairmen from the South-East and South-South, as well as the duly elected National Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser of our great party.
“Even more troubling is the inexplicable exclusion of several national officers, eminent leaders, and critical stakeholders of the PDP. Such a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP not only offends the spirit of collective decision-making but also risks undermining the very foundation upon which our party was built,” they said.
The signatories, including Minority Leader of the House of Representatives O. K. Chinda; Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, and Mike Nnachi; and former National Secretary Onwe S. Onwe, warned that the Lagos meeting was “premature and targeted at protecting the interests and selfish ambition of a select few.”
They also encouraged the PDP National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to dismiss any outcome of the meeting, calling it “illegal and divisive”.
“We call on the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, and all stakeholders of the party to disregard any outcome of the said meeting, which is not only illegal but divisive.
“Take notice that where any iota of regard is given to the outcome of the purported meeting, we shall not hesitate to take appropriate steps in line with our party’s constitution to resist the same with full force,” the statement concluded.
Following the Lagos summit, Makinde responded to Wike’s camp, stating that the gathering attempted to rebrand the PDP as a stronger and more vibrant party.
He also stated that the National Executive Committee would make a decision on zoning on Monday, emphasising that he would not “go low with anyone who decides to go into gutters.”
He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”
The governor stated that, despite the problems, recent elections showed that the PDP remained a strong and prominent party.
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that the PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, the PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” Makinde said.
Speaking on the zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde stated that the party had not reached that stage yet.
“We haven’t even got there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.
“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.
The meeting was attended by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, Bayelsa Governor Diri, Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Peter Mba of Enugu (represented by Ifeanyi Ossai), former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bode George, and Monsurat Sunmonu, as well as 12 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders from the southern states.
Meanwhile, a source in the PDP National Working Committee informed the press that the primary goal of the party’s PDP Governors’ Forum meeting on Saturday in Zamfara is to ensure a smooth convention in Ibadan.
The source noted that, while the majority of the governors had agreed to pursue political solutions to lingering concerns, they were also willing to exert pressure if necessary.
He stated, “The party leaders, that is, governors, the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and others, are aware of the importance of the Ibadan Convention. The convention is crucial to the future of the PDP.
“So, all organs and structures of the party have been discussed at various levels. The governors will meet in Zamfara on Friday and Saturday. Arrival is Friday, and the meeting is expected to take place on Saturday.
“I also know that all our leaders, particularly the governors, have resolved to adopt political solutions where necessary to ensure that the November 15 and 16 Ibadan Convention holds as scheduled. They will also not be afraid to apply force through the organs and instruments of the party.
“With all these, our leaders will work together; the Ibadan Convention will hold as planned, and the PDP will bounce back to rescue Nigeria from the clueless All Progressives Congress come 2027.”
