PDP approves 44-member zoning committee, threatens to discipline Wike
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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\u2019s future and restore public confidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said the panel\u2014chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri\u2014would ensure fairness in allocating National Working Committee positions.<\/p>\n He stressed that the committee\u2019s recommendations would not only determine the distribution of party offices but could also indicate which geopolitical zone might get the PDP\u2019s 2027 presidential ticket.<\/p>\n Zoning has long influenced the PDP\u2019s electoral fortunes. In 2015, northern members opposed then-President Goodluck Jonathan\u2019s re-election bid, insisting the ticket be zoned to their region\u2014discontent that contributed to the party\u2019s loss to the All Progressives Congress.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n Despite a zoning committee chaired by then-Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom throwing the ticket open, dissenters argued that after Muhammadu Buhari\u2019s eight-year tenure, the South should have been favoured. The PDP again lost to the APC.<\/p>\n Following Senator Iyorchia Ayu\u2019s removal as National Chairman in 2023, North Central leaders demanded the right to nominate his replacement. The rejection of this demand prompted prominent figures\u2014including former Senate President David Mark, Senator Dino Melaye, and former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam\u2014to defect to the newly formed African Democratic Congress.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom 2015 till date, disputes over zoning\u2014whether for the presidential ticket or NWC positions\u2014have consistently plunged our party into crisis,\u201d Damagum said.<\/p>\n Urging the committee to act with \u201cwisdom, foresight, and fairness,\u201d Damagum described the zoning process as the \u201cengine room\u201d for laying the PDP\u2019s leadership foundation for the next four years.<\/p>\n \u201cOur zoning process must reflect fairness, equity, and strategic thinking, strengthen our unity, reward loyalty, and position us for electoral victory,\u201d he said. \u201cPDP over anyone, and PDP above any personal interest.\u201d<\/p>\n Damagum, who became acting chairman after serving as Deputy National Chairman (North), told members that deputies are \u201cjust as important as principals,\u201d citing his own unexpected elevation to the top job.<\/p>\n \u201cLoyalty is the lifeblood of our party. Without it, unity is impossible. But loyalty must go hand in hand with competence,\u201d he added. \u201cPolitics demands pragmatism, not sentiment\u2014especially now, when the state of the economy has left many Nigerians disillusioned.\u201d<\/p>\n National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said the zoning committee\u2019s work would \u201clay the foundation for the PDP\u2019s future,\u201d noting that it would submit its report to the National Executive Committee on August 25.<\/p>\n PDP Governors\u2019 Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, assured the committee of the governors\u2019 full support, saying the PDP remained Nigeria\u2019s best hope for credible governance.<\/p>\n \u201cThe many years of APC administration have left woes, melancholy, hunger, and anger,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe the losses we suffered were to make us aware of our limitations so that we can do better.\u201d<\/p>\n Responding on behalf of the committee, Diri pledged a consultative and inclusive approach to delivering \u201ca fair and just zoning formula.\u201d<\/p>\n Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is the committee\u2019s Vice Chairman, while Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, serves as Secretary.<\/p>\n PDP demands Wike\u2019s\u00a0 loyalty<\/p>\n 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 \u201canything short of 100 per cent loyalty\u201d would attract sanctions under the party\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ologunagba dismissed Wike\u2019s position, saying the South-South Zonal Committee\u2019s tenure had expired in March and that a constitutionally approved caretaker committee, headed by Elder Emma Ogidi, had since been inaugurated.<\/p>\n \u201cPDP will not take conditions from anybody,\u201d he said. \u201cMembership 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.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe are stable, strong, and moving towards the National Convention. This is the right time to come back. But loyalty will be total\u2014and we will enforce it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n