PDP Leaders Insist on North-Central Chairman Amid Party Crisis

A group of prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Nigeria, loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, met in Abuja on Monday night under the banner of Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP. The gathering, which included former governors and lawmakers, called for the party’s National Chairman to remain in the North‑Central region and urged the organization to uphold fairness and respect judicial decisions ahead of its national convention.

In a communique read by former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, the leaders stressed that the PDP must adhere to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law. They argued that party leadership positions should be open, competitive, and regionally balanced, noting that the party now stands at a critical juncture where its ability to resolve disputes and maintain fairness will determine its future relevance.

The group specifically requested fresh congresses in the South‑East—namely in Ebonyi and Anambra States—and local government congresses in Ekiti State, as directed by the courts. They also demanded that the outcome of the South‑South Congress held in Calabar, already recognized by the judiciary, be respected. Ignoring these resolutions, they warned, could render any planned national convention invalid by disenfranchising genuine party members.

Emphasizing that unity cannot be achieved through exclusion or disregard for valid court rulings, the leaders called on the National Working Committee to conduct inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra. They urged the party to set aside narrow interests, embrace collective responsibility, and reaffirm its founding values of inclusivity, fairness, and justice in order to reclaim its position as the leading opposition and a credible alternative for Nigerians.

The meeting was attended by several high‑profile PDP figures, including Nyesom Wike, PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Ayo Fayose, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The group remains steadfast in its loyalty to the party and resolute in its determination to work toward a united and just PDP.