PDP Ratifies Zoning Framework for Upcoming National Convention
Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has formally adopted its long-standing zoning arrangement as the guiding framework for its upcoming national convention. The decision was announced following the 107th meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja on Monday.
In a communique signed by Abdulrahman Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Working Committee, and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, the party’s Secretary, the NEC confirmed that the zoning formula—a traditional mechanism for sharing key elective positions among the country’s six geopolitical zones—will determine eligibility for national offices at the convention. The party described the arrangement as aligned with its principles of “fairness, inclusiveness, and balance.”
The meeting also addressed practical preparations for the convention, noting that the sale of nomination forms has already commenced. Aspirants were advised to strictly adhere to the party’s approved guidelines and timelines. The NEC directed all relevant committees to ensure the convention’s smooth coordination, emphasizing that the process must be “credible and transparent.” The event is themed “A Convention of Inclusiveness, Unity and Renewal.”
Furthermore, the NEC ratified the successful conclusion of the party’s recent ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses nationwide, commending members for conducting peaceful and credible exercises. It also expressed satisfaction with the progress of an ongoing electronic membership registration drive, reiterating a commitment to building a reliable, technology-driven national database and urging wider member participation.
The party underscored the supremacy of its unified structure, calling on all members to remain disciplined and focused on collective interests ahead of the convention. While a specific date for the national convention was not announced in the communique, the formal endorsement of the zoning model sets the parameters for the party’s internal contest as it prepares for future electoral engagements.
The zoning arrangement is a critical component of the PDP’s internal power-sharing strategy, historically intended to promote national cohesion and manage regional aspirations within the party. Its ratification signals a move toward finalizing the rules for selecting national leaders, including potential presidential candidates, in the lead-up to the 2027 general election cycle.
