Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South on Thursday resolved to propose a formula for the micro-zoning of the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to any of the three geo-political zones Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth at the forthcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The decision was reached at the PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit held in Lagos and convened by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, who also chairs the 44-member Zoning Committee recently inaugurated by Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
However, the parley deepened cracks in the Southern caucus as several state chairmen, serving and former National Assembly members, and other stakeholders rejected the summit, describing it as divisive, exclusionary, and unconstitutional.
Prominent leaders at the Lagos summit included Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Enugu State Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai representing Governor Peter Mbah, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George, and former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Udom Emmanuel, and Sam Egwu. Others in attendance were Senators Ben Obi, Duro Faseyi, Monsurat Sunmonu, former House of Representatives member Nena Ukeje, and other zonal representatives.
Speaking after the meeting, Governor Makinde confirmed that micro-zoning of the presidential ticket was on the agenda and would be forwarded to NEC after further consultations.
He 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. The South has taken far-reaching decisions, and in the days ahead wider consultations will also take place.”
Makinde dismissed insinuations that the PDP was moribund, insisting that the presence of governors, the BoT chairman, and other party elders was proof of its resilience. He assured that consultations would continue across the South to achieve consensus before NEC takes a final position on zoning.
The governor, however, emphasised that no aspirant has been anointed as the South’s candidate for 2027.
“We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. Our efforts right now are directed towards having a viable and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of,” he stated.
But in Abuja, House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda faulted the Lagos summit, saying it excluded critical stakeholders and violated the principles of inclusivity and consultation.
Chinda 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. Any decision reached in secrecy and seclusion cannot be consensus-driven.”
Also, state chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers—Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, Venatius Ikem, Aniekan Akpan, and Aaron Chukwuemeka—alongside National Vice Chairman (Southeast) Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck, joined in rejecting the Lagos outcome.
In a joint statement, they said:
“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 dissenting leaders stressed that the meeting was premature, especially as the zoning committee had not submitted its report to the party. They warned that attempts to manipulate zoning through “secretive or unfair methods” would be resisted.
As NEC prepares to meet on Monday, the PDP faces renewed pressure to reconcile the sharp differences within its Southern caucus. While some leaders push for unity around a micro-zoning formula, others insist that only an all-inclusive process can guarantee peace, stability, and fairness in the party’s quest to reclaim power in 2027.
About Author
