Ahead of its National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Peoples Democratic Party has inaugurated a 44-member zoning committee, charging it to make decisions that will shape the party’s future and restore public confidence.
At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said the panel—chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri—would ensure fairness in allocating National Working Committee positions.
He stressed that the committee’s recommendations would not only determine the distribution of party offices but could also indicate which geopolitical zone might get the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Zoning has long influenced the PDP’s electoral fortunes. In 2015, northern members opposed then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, insisting the ticket be zoned to their region—discontent that contributed to the party’s loss to the All Progressives Congress.
A similar rift emerged in 2023 when five governors, led by then-Rivers State Governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, opposed Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.
Despite a zoning committee chaired by then-Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom throwing the ticket open, dissenters argued that after Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, the South should have been favoured. The PDP again lost to the APC.
Following Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal as National Chairman in 2023, North Central leaders demanded the right to nominate his replacement. The rejection of this demand prompted prominent figures—including former Senate President David Mark, Senator Dino Melaye, and former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam—to defect to the newly formed African Democratic Congress.
“From 2015 till date, disputes over zoning—whether for the presidential ticket or NWC positions—have consistently plunged our party into crisis,” Damagum said.
Urging the committee to act with “wisdom, foresight, and fairness,” Damagum described the zoning process as the “engine room” for laying the PDP’s leadership foundation for the next four years.
“Our zoning process must reflect fairness, equity, and strategic thinking, strengthen our unity, reward loyalty, and position us for electoral victory,” he said. “PDP over anyone, and PDP above any personal interest.”
Damagum, who became acting chairman after serving as Deputy National Chairman (North), told members that deputies are “just as important as principals,” citing his own unexpected elevation to the top job.
“Loyalty is the lifeblood of our party. Without it, unity is impossible. But loyalty must go hand in hand with competence,” he added. “Politics demands pragmatism, not sentiment—especially now, when the state of the economy has left many Nigerians disillusioned.”
National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said the zoning committee’s work would “lay the foundation for the PDP’s future,” noting that it would submit its report to the National Executive Committee on August 25.
PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, assured the committee of the governors’ full support, saying the PDP remained Nigeria’s best hope for credible governance.
“The many years of APC administration have left woes, melancholy, hunger, and anger,” he said. “Maybe the losses we suffered were to make us aware of our limitations so that we can do better.”
Responding on behalf of the committee, Diri pledged a consultative and inclusive approach to delivering “a fair and just zoning formula.”
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is the committee’s Vice Chairman, while Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, serves as Secretary.
PDP demands Wike’s loyalty
The inauguration came a day after the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, warned that the party would not tolerate disloyalty from any member, stressing that “anything short of 100 per cent loyalty” would attract sanctions under the party’s constitution.
His statement followed recent remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who warned that fresh crises could erupt if the party fails to recognise the zonal congress that elected Chief Dan Orbih as National Vice Chairman (South-South) and to reorganise the South-East zonal congress.
Ologunagba dismissed Wike’s position, saying the South-South Zonal Committee’s tenure had expired in March and that a constitutionally approved caretaker committee, headed by Elder Emma Ogidi, had since been inaugurated.
“PDP will not take conditions from anybody,” he said. “Membership of the party is voluntary, but what we will not take is disloyalty. This is the only political party where you can achieve your goals and aspirations in politics. Ninety per cent of those who have left had their tutelage in the PDP.”
He added: “We are stable, strong, and moving towards the National Convention. This is the right time to come back. But loyalty will be total—and we will enforce it.”
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