Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party National Elective Convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State, the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the Southern Leaders’ Zoning Consultative meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

This is as a reliable source within the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that the PDP Governors’ Forum will convene in Zamfara State on Saturday.

According to the source, the governors are expected to arrive in Gusau, the state capital, on Friday before holding deliberations the next day on pressing issues that must be resolved to ensure a smooth national convention in Ibadan.

It had been earlier reported 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 committed to ensuring that the convention proceeds as planned in line with the party’s constitution.

Amid these tensions, the zoning committee, led by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, continued its consultations across all regions as promised at its inauguration on August 14 and consequently held a meeting with Southern stakeholders in Lagos.

The 44-member committee, chaired by  Diri, is expected to propose a zoning formula for the 19 National Working Committee positions between the North and the South at the 102nd National Executive Committee meeting next Monday.

At the meeting, the NEC will decide whether to adopt, reject, or amend the committee’s recommendations.

However, just hours before the Lagos Southern Zoning talks commenced, a few state chairmen, former governors, National Assembly members, and other key stakeholders aligned with Wike’s camp and publicly distanced themselves from the gathering.

The PDP leaders, in a statement jointly signed by party chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, alongside National Assembly leaders and other stakeholders, on Thursday, 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 condemned the Lagos gathering, described as the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” insisting it was convened without proper 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 said meeting, tagged a summit, was allegedly convened in the name of the three geopolitical zones of Southern Nigeria — 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 noted that the meeting, allegedly summoned by the Zoning Committee’s Administrative Secretary at the behest of Chairman Diri, was “deeply disturbing” because several state chairmen, national officers, principal lawmakers, and former 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, Mike Nnachi; and former National Secretary  Onwe S. Onwe, warned that the Lagos parley was “premature and targeted at protecting the interest and selfish ambition of a select few.”

They further urged the PDP National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to disregard any outcome of the meeting, declaring 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.

Makinde lashes out at Wike

After the Lagos meeting, Makinde responded to Wike’s camp, explaining that the gathering was aimed at repositioning the PDP into a stronger and more vibrant party.

He added that the National Executive Committee would decide on zoning on Monday, stressing that he would not “go low with anyone who decides to go into the 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 noted that despite the challenges, recent elections demonstrated that the PDP still remained a strong and influential 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.

Responding to questions 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.

Dignitaries at the meeting included the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Bayelsa governor,  Diri, Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Peter Mba of Enugu, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bode George, and Monsurat Sunmonu.

Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.

PDP govs’ meeting

Meanwhile, a source in the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that the primary focus of the party’s PDP Governors’ Forum meeting scheduled for Saturday in Zamfara is to ensure a smooth convention in Ibadan.

The source added that while most of the governors had agreed to pursue political solutions to outstanding issues, they were also prepared to apply pressure where necessary.

He stated, “The party leaders, that is, governors, Board of Trustees, 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.”

Attempts by our correspondent to obtain a reaction from PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages.

I support those with Tinubu – Wike

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Wike, has stated that he would support those who support President Bola Tinubu, urging residents to “support those that the government will listen to.”

Wike made the statement while commending former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda, and the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, during the flag-off of Lot 2 of Water Supply Projects in Karu, on Thursday.

The minister hailed both men for their capacity and for bringing development to the people, while promising the construction of a 2km road in Karu site, on the request of former Senator Aduda, adding that he will support those who continued to support the Tinubu-led administration.

He further commended the AMAC Chairman, Maikalangu, saying, “For me, I’m here to talk about those who have access to the government and bring something to the people. The chairman has access to us. Anything he tells us, we will do. This is the only man I know. If he wins as Chairman of AMAC, we will give him whatever he wants. I don’t know the party he belongs to. But I know that he supports Tinubu. Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him,” Wike said.

The Minister pointed out that past governments had failed to provide the needs of the people, particularly water supply to the communities in Karu, noting that the government of President Tinubu has fulfilled its promise to provide potable water to satellite towns.

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