The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to receive the much-anticipated report from its zoning committee today during its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, as internal disputes continue to cast a shadow over preparations for the upcoming national convention.
Formed in July and chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, the zoning committee was mandated to allocate the party’s 19 National Working Committee (NWC) positions between the North and South.
Insiders have revealed that the committee is recommending the retention of the existing zoning structure, with the South already finalizing the micro-zoning of its positions and the North expected to follow suit after the NEC meeting.
Tensions surrounding the convention, scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, remain high, especially following a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos last week, where Southern leaders agreed on specific office allocations.
Governor Seyi Makinde is said to have played a key role in the decision to assign the National Secretary position to Oyo State, while Akwa Ibom is to produce the Publicity Secretary.
These moves have not gone unchallenged. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has voiced concerns, warning that unresolved issues particularly those raised during the South-South Congress in Calabar could spark another round of crisis.
He insists that the party must first address internal grievances before moving ahead with the convention. His views are echoed by allies like House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who have rejected the outcomes of the Lagos micro-zoning meeting.
In contrast, PDP youth leaders across the country have thrown their weight behind the NEC’s decisions.
At a press conference in Abuja, the Forum of PDP Youth Leaders reaffirmed their support for both the zoning committee and the planned convention, urging all members to prioritize unity and focus on presenting a credible alternative to the ruling party.
They dismissed Wike’s objections, asserting that party institutions had made binding decisions that should be respected.
As the NEC gathers today, party leaders are hoping that the formal adoption of the zoning report will help de-escalate tensions and solidify preparations for the convention.
While challenges persist, the leadership remains optimistic that consensus will ultimately prevail, allowing the PDP to move forward as a unified front.
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