‘Division among Southwest, Southeast, Southeast leaders’
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South on Thursday resolved to propose a formula for the micro-zoning of the presidential ticket to any of the three geo-political regions during the next meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
However, they said they would intensify consultations by reaching out to aggrieved members so that the three zones can speak with one voice.
There is agitation for the zoning of the slot to the South by majority of stalwarts, although there are also some dissenting voices in the North.
At the PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit in Lagos convened by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, the chieftains reiterated their commitment to unity and harmony in the party.
Diri is the chairman of the 44-member Zoning Committee recently inaugurated by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
However, there is sharp division in the Southern PDP caucus as state chairmen, serving and former lawmakers and some party elders disowned the Lagos meeting, saying that it was not a product of consensus.
At the meeting convened were his Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Enugu State Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Mbah; Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George, former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Senators Ben Obi, Duro Faseyi and Monsurat Sunmonu; and former House of Representatives member Nena Ukeje.
The meeting was also attented by Chief Eddy Olafeso, Mrs Esther Udueni, Emma Ogidi, Adedeji Olajide, Fred Agbedi, Dr. Bakkita Bello, Chuwueke Onyema, Peter Mrakpo, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Bashiru Salami, Emmanuel Ibom, Igwe Abebg, and Anieka Akpam.
Makinde, who spoke with reporters after the meeting, confirmed that micro-zoning of the presidential slot was on the agenda, adding that the outcome of the parley and further consultations after would be forwarded to the NEC for consideration.
He noted the objection to the Lagos meeting by some chieftains, saying that it is normal in democracy.
Makinde said, “We just finished the consultative meeting of the PDP Zoning Committee for the South, and nothing should stop us from consulting.
Democracy is about the minority having their say and the majority having their way. That is democracy.
“So, we’re semocrats. The South has taken far-reaching decisions, and in the days ahead wider consultations will also take place.”
The governor said those saying that PDP is either dead or has becone a carcass, should pull the break, stressing PDP serving governors, elders and leaders, including the former Snate President and BoT chairman, have reiterated thrir commitment to its survival.
Makinde added, “They are all here and committed to PDP taking back its rightful position in Nigeria. So, in the days ahead, some of the things discussed here, you’ll see them in place.”
The governor who debunked the allegation of exclusion, saying, “Governor Adeleke was here. He came back into this country, I believe this morning, and then, he went straight to Osogbo to address some governance issues. But he said, look, whatever we decide, he is is with us.
“Governor Diri is here, Governor Peter Mbah, who couldn’t make it physically, he sent the deputy governor. You have the chairman of our board of trustees here. You also have at least, 12 of the 17 members of the zoning committee from the South here.
“It is one per state. So, you have 12 states here. You have in each zone, you have House of Representatives members here, you have senators from each zone in the South, the three zones.
“You have BoT members from the three zones in the South. So, yes, I won’t say maybe the organizers will score 100%. You don’t score 100% in politics.”
Makinde said consultation is a continuum, assuring that the Southern PDP leaders would reach out and engage more members to drive a consensus.
He stressed, “We’re trying to get all stakeholders, all tendencies in the PDP together so that we can give a credible alternative to Nigerians in the years ahead.”
Makinde however, clarified that the decision of the Southern PDP Zoning Summit is not final, stressing that it would be subject to ratification by NEC.
He said, “This consultative meeting is not something that is statutory in the constitution of PDP. But democracy is inclusivity, reaching out and ensuring that all stakeholders are carried along, which is what we’ve done today.
“NEC is on Monday. Today is Thursday. NEC is on Monday. You will definitely have a decision.”
Makinde also clarified that no chieftain has been picked from the South as an anointed presidential candidate for 2027.
He said, “We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything that you’re trying to do will fall flat.
“So, our efforts right now is directed towards having a viral and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and again they will believe in.”
Makinde took exception to party members fron the South who attacked the organisers of the summit.
He said: “Personally, when people go low, or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them.”
However, he said all stakeholders would be engaged to make contributions.
He added, “We will reach out to them. I mean, that is democracy. We will reach out to them. I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here.
“It should be about what are we giving to Nigerians because they are watching, you know. We want to give a formidable PDP to Nigerians. In Oyo state, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead.
“In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second in each of those states. It’s some indication to us that if we continue to work hard, if we continue to strive hard, if we continue to bring our people together, we will get to a point where Nigerians will really start listening to us.”
Cracks in Southern PDP as chieftains disown meeting
However, the party sunk deeper into crisis over the Lagos summit as some stakeholders alleged lack of wide consultation and exclusion.
But irked by the micro-zoning move, PDP state chairmen, former governors and National Assembly members disowned the Southern zoning meeting, describing it as divisive and unconstitutional.
PDP House of Representatives Leader Kingsley Chinda said the Lagos meeting has excluded and sidelined critical party leaders.
He told reporters in Abuja that any party meeting where zoning, power rotation and distribution of offices are to be discussed, it should be all-inclusive.
Chinda said the Lagos meeting has brazenly disregarded the statutory organs of the party and violated the criteria of inclusivity, consultation and participation.
He said, “We dismiss the resolution and outcome of the meeting. It is not binding and not reflective of the opinion of the generality of stakeholders.”
Chinda said any decision reached in secrecy and seclusion cannot be consensus-driven, adding that it would be resisted in accordance with the constitution of the party.
He therefore, urged members of the party to disregard the outcome.
Also, state Chairmen, former governors, National Assembly members, and other key party stakeholders from the South East and South South zones said they were neither invited nor consulted.
In another statement, the state Chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers—Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, Venatius Ikem, Rt. Hon Aniekan Akpan, and Aaron Chukwuemeka—alongside National Vice Chairman (South-East) Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck and Chinda, said the meeting’s outcomes should not be recognized.
The statement reads, “The PDP has always stood for inclusivity, fairness, consultation, and collective decision-making. Any meeting that ignores key leaders and elected officials breaks trust, causes division, and threatens party unity. We therefore, reject any outcomes from this summit as neither binding nor representative of the PDP in Southern Nigeria.
“The meeting is also premature and seems aimed at serving the interests of a few, especially since the Zoning Committee has not yet submitted its report for party approval.”
“We remain fully committed to the unity, stability, and success of the PDP. We urge all leaders and stakeholders to resist any attempts to manipulate zoning through secretive or unfair methods.
“The Southeast and Southsouth, together with the South West, stand united in promoting fairness, justice, and equity. As custodians of our members’ mandate, we will defend the integrity of the party and ensure that any decisions affecting Southern Nigeria are made openly, consultatively, and inclusively.”
