Olayiwola Matthew
Southern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have drawn a firm battle line ahead of the party’s November national convention, insisting that the presidency must remain in the South while the national chairmanship stays in the North.
This resolution emerged from the PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit held in Lagos on Wednesday, with governors, ex-governors, party heavyweights, and members of the Board of Trustees in attendance.
Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Enugu Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, and BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara led the charge at the closed-door session, which also had Chief Olabode George, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sam Egwu, Udom Emmanuel, and several other stakeholders.
While leaders agreed to hold the chairmanship in the North and presidency in the South, cracks remain over whether the South-West, South-South, or South-East should get the presidential slot.
Makinde told journalists that the resolutions will be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday, stressing that consultations would continue. “The South has taken far-reaching decisions, and wider consultations will follow,” he said.
Despite Nyesom Wike’s camp dismissing the Lagos summit as “illegal,” southern leaders maintained it was legitimate, noting that 12 of 17 southern states were represented.
The zoning arrangement sets the tone for the November 15–16 PDP national convention in Ibadan, where a new National Working Committee will emerge to replace the Damagum-led leadership.