By Sarah NEGEDU
Amid ongoing efforts to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2027 general elections, some stakeholders and leaders of the party are calling for urgent reforms, including a formal zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a consultative meeting of Eminent Stakeholders and Concerned Leaders of the PDP held in Abuja on Monday, June 9, 2025, where party leaders emphasized the need to reinforce internal democracy within the party.
The meeting, hosted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, followed earlier consultations by the group, during which Wike assured that the PDP would not collapse despite internal tensions.
The group attributed the party’s internal challenges to series of constitutional breaches and warned that failure to uphold the party’s guiding principles could undermine its future.
According to the communique, “The seemingly intractable crisis in the party is as a result of inexplicable refusal of a few to adhere to the Party Constitution, with particular reference to Section 36(1)(a)(b) and (c), Sections 47(3)(5) and 48(1)(i) and the definitive Supreme Court Judgment regarding the position of the office of the National Secretary of the Party.”
Members therefore demand for the zoning the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South, in line with the federal character principle and the PDP’s own internal equity arrangements.
Part of the communique reads, “In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal Character principles and respect for our party Constitution, the Party must make an unequivocal pronouncement Zoning its presidential Candidate to the South in the 2027 elections after the unbroken years of Northern President under President Muhammadu Buhari.”
They cautioned against divisive tendencies and internal sabotage, insisting that, “In line with the provisions of our party constitution only the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Caucus and the National Working Committee and to this end all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to INEC are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
The stakeholders also urged the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary to jointly issue a notice to INEC for the convening of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, stating that such a move is essential to restoring lawful order to the party’s leadership processes.
“Furthermore, it is clear from the Constitution that only the National Convention, properly and duly constituted can remove Senator Sam Anyanwu, the National Secretary, arising from his status as a member of the National Executive Committee of the Party.
“We, therefore, demand that the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary jointly issue a notice to INEC with an attached agenda for the National Executive Committee Meeting of the Party being the only pathway to abide by extant laws.”
The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to the PDP and expressed support for the ongoing reconciliation process led by former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.
“We, the stakeholders reiterate our commitment to our great party and urge all members to uphold the rule of law, respect constitutional mandate, resist all machinations aimed at destabilizing the party and support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by His Excellency, Senator Bukola Saraki,” the communiqué concluded.
