Some southern leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including state chairmen, National Assembly members, former members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and other stakeholders, have rejected the ongoing zoning summit in Lagos, distancing themselves from its legitimacy and outcomes.
The Lagos meeting is expected to decide on the input of Southern stakeholders regarding the zoning of positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) ahead of the November 15th and 16th convention and the 2027 general elections.
However, the PDP leaders in a statement on Thursday said “any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from the meeting is neither binding on, or reflective of, the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria,” adding that “Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus.”
The statement was signed by the State Party Chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, Barr. Venatuis Ikem, Rt. Hon Aniekan Akpan and Aaron Chukwuemeka, as well as the National Vice Chairman (South-East), Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon O. K. Chinda.
Others were Senators Igwe Nwagu, Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi, former National Secretary, Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, former Ebonyi State Legal Adviser, Barr. Mudi Erhenede, among others.
The statement titled, “Re: Purported Meeting Of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” said, “The attention of the undersigned State Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the South and some critical stakeholders has been drawn to a meeting summoned in Lagos today 21st August 2025 by some persons purporting to do so on behalf of PDP Members of the South tagged ‘PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit’ convened by the Admin Secretary, Zoning Committee of the PDP at the behest of the Chairman Zoning Committee (H.E Senator Duoye Diri) at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
“The said meeting tagged ‘a summit’ was allegedly convened in the name of the three geo-political zones of Southern Nigeria — South East, South South, and South West.
“It is highly regrettable and indeed deeply disturbing that such a meeting was convened without the courtesy of inviting several State Chairmen from the South East and South South, as well as the duly elected National Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser of our great party.”
Exclusion Sparks Outrage Among Party Stakeholders
The leaders further expressed anger over what they described as the deliberate exclusion of state chairmen, national officers, and other critical figures from the Lagos meeting.
“Even more troubling is the inexplicable exclusion of several national officers, eminent leaders, and critical stakeholders of the PDP. Shockingly, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly and other principal officers of our party from the South-South and South-East were also deliberately sidelined and denied participation in a meeting where such far-reaching and sensitive decisions on zoning, power rotation, and political equity are to be discussed.
“Equally concerning is the deliberate omission of most former governors from the South East and South South, who, by every standard of history, pedigree, and institutional memory, remain critical stakeholders in any conversation about the future direction of our party. Such a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP not only offends the spirit of collective decision-making but also risks undermining the very foundation upon which our party was built.”
The group firmly stated that it does not recognise any resolutions, communiqués, or decisions coming out of the Lagos meeting, stressing that such outcomes are neither binding nor representative of the collective will and aspirations of the PDP across Southern Nigeria.
They argued that decisions reached in secrecy and without proper inclusion cannot be regarded as consensus. According to them, the summit was not only premature but also appeared to serve the narrow interests and ambitions of a few individuals, especially since the Zoning Committee established by the 101st NEC has yet to submit its report for ratification.
The statement further urged the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), and all party stakeholders to disregard the Lagos meeting, describing it as both illegal and divisive.
