The controversy surrounding the congress highlights deepening tensions within the PDP in the South-South, with party leaders divided over its legitimacy.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims that it held its official South-South Zonal Congress, stating that the gathering in Calabar, Cross River State, was not sanctioned by the party.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Saturday, February 21, 2025, clarified that the event did not have the backing of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC). This comes amid internal disagreements within the party’s South-South leadership.
Despite the party’s stance, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who was present at the event, described the South-South as the “strongest zone” of the PDP. He insisted that the congress was valid and urged delegates to elect officials who would protect the party’s interests.
“The South-South Zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will always be. There is no part of the constitution that says Congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling,” Wike said.
He also dismissed concerns about attendance, stating, “There has never been a congress where every delegate was present. The constitution did not say the National Working Committee should conduct a congress but the zone. I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the South-South Zone. After today’s election, no other zonal congress will hold.”
The controversy surrounding the congress highlights deepening tensions within the PDP in the South-South, with party leaders divided over its legitimacy.
Zonal chairman, Dan Orbih, whose reelection is being contested by a faction of the party, acknowledged internal issues, while noting that the party’s problems in the region were self-inflicted.
He, however, expressed hope that the congress would help reposition the PDP and strengthen its future.