PDP NEC Receives Zoning Report Amidst Convention Crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party will today (Monday) receive the report of its zoning committee at the 102nd National Executive Committee meeting, amid deepening tensions over the party’s planned national convention.

The zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, with Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal as vice chairman and Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang as secretary, was constituted in July to share the 19 National Working Committee offices between the North and South.

Multiple party sources confirmed to The PUNCH that the committee had recommended the retention of the existing zoning formula, under which the North and South will continue to hold their current positions.

The NEC is expected to ratify the report at its 2pm session today.

A PDP NWC insider said, “From the report we have seen, the zoning committee upheld the current zoning formula. The South has already micro-zoned its offices to the geopolitical zones, while the North will finalise its own arrangements after the NEC.”

At the PDP South stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos last Thursday, southern leaders allocated the Deputy National Chairman and National Publicity Secretary to the South-South, the National Secretary and National Auditor to the South-West, and the Deputy National Secretary and Financial Secretary to the South-East.

With Governor Seyi Makinde’s influence, the National Secretary was micro-zoned to Oyo, while Akwa Ibom got the Publicity Secretary slot.

The tenure of the acting NWC led by Ambassador Umar Damagum will lapse in December.

To forestall further cracks, the party’s 101st NEC had in July approved November 15–16 as the date for the National Elective Convention, to be held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, will chair the National Convention Committee, with Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke, as vice chairman and Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, as secretary.

However, the zoning and convention arrangements have not been without controversy. Former Rivers Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has warned that ignoring the outcome of the South-South Congress in Calabar could trigger fresh crises.