Photo Credit: Independent Newspaper Nigeria

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)is set to hold its elective National Convention on November 15th and 16th in Ibadan, Oyo State, amidst significant internal strife and stringent conditions presented by a powerful faction within the party.

A group, identifying itself as "Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP" and loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike,has outlined fresh conditions for the convention to proceed peacefully. This influential group, which includes former governors such as Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), along with PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, met to review the state of the party and assess critical issues leading to the forthcoming convention.

A primary demand from Wike's loyalists centers on the zoning of party offices. They concur with the zoning committee's recommendations, adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC), that the status quo remains regarding the national chairmanship being in the North. However, they strongly assert that there should be no "micro-zoning" and that the National Chairman of the party must specifically remain in the North-Central, in line with the zoning formula established by the 2021 convention.

Photo Credit: Leadership Newspapers

This position challenges the current substantive National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, who hails from Yobe State in the North-East, having assumed the role in an acting capacity and later as substantive chairman after the suspension ofIyorchia Ayu,who is from the North-Central.

Beyond the national chairmanship, the group issued several other specific demands regarding party congresses across various states and zones. They called on the National Working Committee (NWC)to urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States, in compliance with existing court judgments.

Furthermore, they demanded a fresh and legitimate South-East Zonal Congress, insisted that the outcome of the valid and legitimate South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, and recognized by the court, be respected, and urged the immediate conduct of the Ekiti State Local Government Areas Congress, also in obedience to a subsisting court judgment.

Reacting to these demands, Senator Bala Mohammed,Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, strongly criticized those he accused of causing problems. Mohammed declared that PDP leaders are "not cowards" and will not "continue to keep quiet and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse." He affirmed the party's determination to "flex our muscles," enforce discipline, and navigate beyond the "shenanigans, arrogance and impunity of some people," expressing full support for the National Working Committee and the Convention Committee leadership, whose capacity he stated was "never in doubt."

National Chairman Ambassador Iliya Damagum echoed this resolve, vowing that the PDP would proceed with its elective National Convention as scheduled. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Convention Committee, he dismissed those against the convention as "detractors who will not succeed," asserting that the PDP is "alive and strong" and ready to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. The Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders group warned that failure to comply with their resolutions and demands would render any purported national convention invalid, arguing that it would disenfranchise legitimate members.

Photo Credit: Tribune Online

Their communiqué stated that the PDP stands at a "defining crossroads where its ability to reconcile internal disputes, uphold fairness, and respect constitutional processes will determine its future relevance," adding that "unity cannot be built on disenfranchisement, exclusion, or the neglect of valid judicial pronouncements." Despite their firm stance, the group pledged steadfast loyalty to the party and expressed commitment to work with all organs and leaders to ensure the convention becomes a "watershed moment" where unity and justice prevail.

The intricate situation is further complicated by Minister Nyesom Wike's unique political position; while a PDP member, he serves as a minister in the APC-led federal government and has openly declared support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Wike had previously been silent on the party's chairmanship position in earlier media engagements, though his loyalists' current demands make their position explicitly clear.