ABUJA, Nigeria — A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has called on the party to restrict its national chairmanship contest to the north-central region, warning that failure to do so could undermine the credibility of its November national convention.
In a communiqué issued after a meeting in Abuja on Monday, September 1, 2025, the group — known as the Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders — set out conditions for supporting the planned convention, including compliance with court judgments and the conduct of fresh congresses in some states.
The PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had in July approved Ibadan as the venue of the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16.
It also resolved to maintain the zoning arrangement first adopted in 2021, which allocated the national chairmanship to the north and further narrowed it to the north-central.
In 2021, Iyorchia Ayu from Benue State was elected chairman under the formula, but his tenure ended abruptly after a court upheld his suspension, paving the way for Umar Damagum from Yobe State in the north-east to assume leadership.
On Monday, August 25, 2025, the NEC confirmed Damagum as substantive chairman.
The Wike group insisted that the party must hold fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States and recognise the outcome of the south-south congress conducted in Calabar, Cross River State.
It also demanded the immediate conduct of Ekiti State local government congresses in line with subsisting judicial orders.
“That unity cannot be built on disenfranchisement, exclusion, or the neglect of valid judicial pronouncements,” the communiqué stated.
“A credible National Convention must be anchored in transparency, fairness, respect for the rule of law, and inclusivity.”
While agreeing with NEC’s decision to maintain the 2021 zoning formula, the group firmly opposed any move to micro-zone the national chairmanship further within the north.
“Consequently, the National Chairman of the party should remain in the North-Central in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention,” the group said.
It added that any convention conducted without implementing its resolutions would be “invalid” as legitimate members would be disenfranchised.
Among those present at the Abuja meeting were Samuel Anyanwu, PDP national secretary; former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Kingsley Chinda, minority leader of the House of Representatives; and Martins Ameawhule, suspended speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Wike, who denied being invited to the NEC meeting that approved the convention date and venue — despite evidence showing otherwise — is seen as consolidating his influence within the PDP while pressing for greater internal reforms.
