Zonal congresses: PDP inner wrangling threatens future electoral success

Regardless of the disaster throughout the Peoples Democratic Party, its zonal congresses within the South-South, South-East, and North-East noticed each successes and divisions. Whereas some areas skilled easy processes, others deepened get together polarisation. ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU X-ray the outcomes and the rising inner tensions throughout the get together

The primary opposition get together has been fighting inner points each throughout and after the 2023 elections. Consequently, its key organs, together with the Nationwide Working Committee, Nationwide Govt Committee, and Board of Trustees, have been largely divided, as have the zonal chapters.

Regardless of these challenges, the PDP stays targeted on its actions, notably in preparation for the 2025 Nationwide Elective Conference. On February 17, the get together authorized a timetable for zonal congresses to elect new Zonal Working Committees and Nationwide Ex-officio members.

In line with a public discover from PDP Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the NEC sanctioned the zonal congresses throughout its 592nd assembly, forward of the expiration of the present zonal executives’ tenures within the South-South, South-East, and North-East zones.

The publicity scribe defined that “The zonal congress dates for the North-East, South-East, and South-South: Saturday, February 22, 2025. Appeal on Zonal Congresses: Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

“Zonal Congresses for North-Central and South-West: Saturday, March 22, 2025. Appeal on Zonal Congresses: Wednesday, March 26, 2025.”

 N’East, S’East defy courtroom orders

Following the timetable set by the NEC and introduced by the NWC, the North East chapters of the PDP, led by Appearing Nationwide Chairman, Umar Damagum, started preparations to conduct the congress.

Nevertheless, only a day earlier than the occasion, a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja issued a restraining order, stopping the get together from holding its elective zonal congress. Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja dominated that the PDP and its management should keep the established order till additional proceedings on February 25, 2025. The ruling, in case No: FHC/ABJCS/298/2025 sought to cease the election of zonal committee members and nationwide ex-officio representatives.

Regardless of the setback, the get together, after contemplating the authorized implications, went forward with the congress at Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Sq., Authorities Home, Bauchi. On February 22, Babangida Umar was elected as the brand new North East Zonal Chairman. As a part of the get together’s consensus association, all 22 management positions had been crammed unopposed.

The congress was attended by key PDP leaders, together with Damagum, Chairman of the PDP Governors Discussion board and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the governors of Adamawa and Taraba states, Ahmadu Fintiri and Agbu Kefas, respectively.

Within the South East, the Federal Capital Territory Excessive Courtroom additionally issued a restraining order, stopping the PDP from holding its zonal congress.

The ruling was made on an ex parte movement in swimsuit no: FCT/HC/CV/325/2025, filed by Mike Nathan Nwankwo. Justice S. B. Belgore directed that every one events concerned within the case—together with the PDP, the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee, former Nationwide Vice Chairman of the South-East PDP, Chief Ali Odefa, and two different people, together with their brokers—should keep the established order till the primary case is resolved.

On Wednesday, the PDP held its South-East zonal congress in Enugu, reaffirming Ali Odefa because the Zonal Chairman.

The congress, which occurred at Michael Okpara Sq., was attended by get together delegates from the 5 southeast states, alongside key stakeholders, together with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara.

In his handle, Mbah, the lone PDP governor within the zone, underscored the necessity for unity throughout the get together.

He said, “After we describe the PDP as a terrific get together, it isn’t only a slogan. The get together’s energy lies in its means to reinvent itself and keep nationwide enchantment regardless of challenges.

“We perceive the expectations of our folks in a democracy, and on the core of it’s good governance. That has been the PDP’s dedication since its inception.”

The congress noticed all 22 zonal positions crammed unopposed, with James Ugwu retaining his place as Zonal Secretary.

S’South ‘controversial congress’

Much like the South-East and North-East instances, on February 21, 2025, the Rivers State Excessive Courtroom in Port Harcourt issued a restraining order, stopping the get together and the Nationwide Vice Chairman of the South-South, Dan Orbih, from holding the zonal congress.

The claimants within the case, marked PHC/551/CS/2025, had been PDP members from Rivers State, Tonu Ejiogu and Area Nkor. Nevertheless, regardless of the courtroom’s ruling, the get together proceeded with the congress.

The chairman of the electoral committee, Vita Abba, introduced that Orbih received the election with 174 votes. Different elected officers included Alabah Turnah (Secretary), Evelyn Weke (Treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (Monetary Secretary), Timothy Okwoche (Organising Secretary), Iyrneri Briggs (Authorized Adviser), Etim Isong (Publicity Secretary), Loveday Abaribote (Auditor), Phenomena Esubok (Girl Chief), and Patrick Asuquo (Youth Chief).

Former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who supported and attended the congress in Calabar, Cross River State, described the South-South because the PDP’s strongest base, asserting that no different congress can be held within the area.

In response, after receiving communications from the South-South PDP Governors, the NWC, in an announcement issued by Nationwide Secretary, Ologunagba, on February 22, distanced itself from the congress.

It said, “On the contrary, the PDP states in clear phrases that it has neither performed its South-South zonal congress neither is it in any approach concerned within the stated gathering in Calabar.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC, at its assembly on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in train of its powers below Part 29(2)(b), pursuant to Part 31(2)(c) and (j) of the Structure of the PDP (as amended in 2017), postponed the conduct of the south-south zonal congress from the sooner scheduled date of Saturday, February 22, 2025, to permit for additional session on crucial points regarding the sleek conduct of the Congress within the Zone.

“For emphasis, due to this fact, the PDP states that it has not performed its South-South zonal congress and it has but to speak a date for the train.

“The PDP calls on all get together members within the South-South zone, the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), safety companies and the media to ignore any gathering or final result of any such gathering in Calabar, Cross River State, presupposed to be the South-South zonal congress of the PDP.”

In a letter dated February 20, the Appearing Nationwide Chairman and Nationwide Secretary, Sunday Ude-Okoye, knowledgeable the Chairman of INEC that, as a result of operational challenges and unexpected circumstances, the beforehand scheduled South-South zonal congress wouldn’t happen as deliberate.

The letter, which was solely obtained by The PidomNigeria, was acquired by INEC on Tuesday and was partially titled “Rescheduling of South-South Zonal Congress.”

The letter learn partly: “The fee could recall our earlier correspondence, reference: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1E/24-293, dated Monday, October 7, 2024, by which we notified the fee of our deliberate zonal congresses within the North-East, South-East, South-South, North-Central, and South-West zonal chapters of our get together for the aim of electing new Zonal Govt Committee members and Nationwide Ex-Officios within the affected zones.

“We now want to formally inform the fee that, as a result of operational constraints and unexpected circumstances, the South-South zonal congress is not going to maintain as scheduled. We will talk a brand new date and venue to the fee as soon as it’s fastened.”

Regardless of the courtroom order, the NWC assertion, the letter to INEC, and the notable absence of the governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, Wike’s allies, Orbih, and the elected officers maintained that their election was respectable.

PDP’s bleak future

Though the get together can level to some successes in sure congresses, it’s changing into more and more clear to just about all its members that somewhat than the disaster diminishing, it has continued to unfold and deeply affecting the get together.

Political analysts, who recall that each the ward and state congresses had been marred by crises and quite a few authorized battles, consider that if these points aren’t addressed swiftly, the Nationwide Elective Conference scheduled for later this yr may expertise related, if no more extreme issues.

Some chieftains of the get together had been clamouring for reforms to make sure the get together stayed afloat.

A chieftain and BoT member, Olabode George, expressed concern over the inner disaster throughout the get together, stating that private ambitions are damaging its prospects.

Talking on Come up TV, George additionally known as for the institution of a committee to resolve the continued rift between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye over the place of PDP’s Nationwide Secretary.

The controversial South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Orbih, talking after the Calabar congress, stated that the continued disaster plaguing the get together was self-inflicted.

He famous that the get together’s structure had been disregarded in favour of non-public pursuits by just a few members.

He then known as for the election of officers who would uphold the get together’s structure within the zone, stressing that such people should even have the concern of God.