*Party leaders brainstorm in Lagos over zoning
*Southern leaders kick against meeting, says it’s illegal, divisive
Key stakeholders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Southern region, on Thursday, converged on Lagos to deliberate on the contentious issue of zoning party offices ahead of the forthcoming national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
But some state chairmen of the PDP across Southern Nigeria, former stars governors, National Assembly members and other stakeholders have kicked against the Lagos meeting and described the meeting as illegal.
The Lagos gathering, tagged “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit”, drew an array of party heavyweights, including State Governors: Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Also in attendance were Enugu State Deputy Governor, Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Mbah; Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara; former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ebonyi State Governor, Sam Egwu; former Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide.
Other notable leaders at the session included Dr. Ali Odefa, Chief Emma Ogidi, Hon. Nnena Ukeje, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, among others.
The Lagos meeting comes against the backdrop of simmering controversy over the party’s zoning formula. Already, a section of southern stakeholders has dismissed as “illegal” a separate meeting reportedly convened in the state over the same issue.
Despite the opposition, organisers of the consultative summit went ahead with Thursday’s gathering, which kicked off at about 2:30 p.m. Journalists covering the event were asked to leave the hall shortly before deliberations began.
Gov Makinde berates Wike
After the Lagos meeting, Makinde responded to the complaints from the camp of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, explaining that the gathering was aimed at repositioning the PDP into a stronger and more vibrant party.
Makinde further disclosed that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) would decide on zoning on Monday, saying that he would not “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”
He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”
The Oyo Governor noted that despite the challenges facing the opposition party, recent elections demonstrated that the PDP still remained a strong and influential party.
Southern PDP disown Lagos zoning meeting
Meanwhile, state chairmen of the PDP across Southern Nigeria, alongside former governors, National Assembly members, serving and past National Working Committee members, and other prominent stakeholders have disowned the Lagos meeting on zoning arrangements within the party.
The leaders strongly rejected the gathering, dismissing “any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from this meeting as neither binding on or reflective of the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria,” stressing that “Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus.”
Their position was contained in a press statement signed by the PDP State 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 the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. O.K. Chinda.
Other signatories included 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, and former Ebonyi State Legal Adviser, Barr. Mudi Erhenede.
The statement, titled “Re: Purported Meeting of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” described the Lagos meeting as an illegal exercise convened by “some persons purporting to do so on behalf of PDP members of the South,” allegedly at the behest of the Chairman of the PDP Zoning Committee, Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, and scheduled at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja.
According to the signatories, the meeting, tagged “a summit,” was convened in the name of the South-East, South-South, and South-West zones but “regrettably and indeed deeply disturbingly” excluded several state chairmen, national officers, lawmakers, and respected stakeholders.
The statement reads in part, “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. 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.
The PDP leaders further warned that ignoring former governors from the South-East and South-South — who they described as “critical stakeholders in any conversation about the future direction of our party” — amounted to “a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP.”
They cautioned that the action threatened party unity, noting that : “The PDP, since inception, has been anchored on the values of inclusivity, equity, consultation, and collective responsibility. Any process that deliberately sidelines key stakeholders… erodes trust, fuels division, and threatens party cohesion at a time when unity is most needed.”
Reaffirming their stand, they said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically dismiss any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from this meeting… Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus.”
The leaders also accused the conveners of pursuing “selfish ambition,” describing the summit as “premature and targeted at protecting the interest and selfish ambition of a select few as the Zoning Committee set up by the 101 NEC is yet to present its report for ratification by the party.”
They pledged continued commitment to the party’s unity and electoral strength, declaring that : “The South East and South South zones, alongside our counterparts in the South West, remain united in the pursuit of fairness, justice, and equity — the very ideals that have sustained our party’s relevance and credibility over the years.”
The statement urged the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), and stakeholders nationwide to disregard any resolutions from the Lagos meeting, warning that : “Take notice that where any iota of regard is given to the outcome of the purported meeting, we shall not hesitate to take appropriate steps in line with our party constitution to resist same with full force.”
 from the Southern region, on Thursday, converged on Lagos to deliberate on){kind=link}