Isaac Samuel
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have drawn a battle line with loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ahead of the party’s national elective convention.
The convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, has become a flashpoint of confrontation between the two camps, with Wike’s group insisting that the exercise would be invalid unless their conditions are met.
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to Wike, under the banner of the Eminent leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP, had met with the minister in closed-door meeting on Monday in Abuja.
The meeting which had in attendance the National Secretary of the party, Sam Anyanwu, and other leaders met to discuss issues affecting the party.
Following the nearly three-hour meeting, a communiqué was issued, read by former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who noted the members’ “collective commitment to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law”, describing them as “values upon which the PDP was founded and upon which its survival depends.”
ALSO READ ADC woos Jonathan as Mark, Atiku insist on primaries Isaac Samuel The race to the 2027 presidency took a dramatic turn this week as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified efforts to lure former President Goodluck Jonathan into its fold. Jonathan, it was gathered is also taking decisive moves to reset opposition strategy and mount a formidable challenge against President Bola Tinubu. The former President held a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Thursday with ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark. Jonathan, who publicly met with politicians and party leaders for the first time since his rumoured bid to return to power, met the ADC stakeholders at the home of Mark. Seen in a viral video as he walked into the expansive residence of the former Senate President in Abuja, others with Mark were former Minister of Sports and ADC spokesperson, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi as well as a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, among others. Sources claimed the former president has begun consultations ahead of the 2027 polls following increasing pressure to get in the ring and ‘save’ the nation. But it was learnt that the former President's bid to return to Aso Rock on the platform of the opposition coalition may have hit an early stumbling block. At Thursday’s meeting, Mark was said to have told the former president in clear terms that the only path to the party’s presidential ticket was through the front door by formally joining the party and submitting himself to a transparent primary election. Unable to secure any guarantees, Jonathan and Mark agreed to meet again soon to review the situation. It was learnt that the ADC is moving to draft Jonathan into the race beccause he is seen as a compromise candidate, but his strong base used to be the South-East which is now the political fortress of Obi. But Jonathan is not alone in seeking assurances. Both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are also pressing the ADC leadership for firm commitments before they take the plunge. The party’s new leadership, however, has refused to make such promises, a development that explains why all three leading contenders are still holding back from declaring for the party. For them, early commitment without certainty could prove politically fatal. Aligning with the ADC and then losing its ticket could leave any of the trio stranded and without a viable political vehicle ahead of 2027. Obi has consistently insisted that power must remain in the South for equity, even pledging to serve a single term if elected. But his camp remains opposed to any vice-presidential offer, warning that such a move would be politically suicidal after his strong showing in 2023. For Atiku, who resigned from the PDP in July, the plan is to complete ongoing grassroots mobilisation before formally collecting his ADC membership card in Adamawa. While Atiku insists he is ready for an open primary, his increasing influence within ADC backed by significant political investments is fuelling fears that the presidential ticket may already be tilted in his favour. That dynamic, party figures say, could force Jonathan and Obi to reconsider their strategies. Meanwhile, the ADC leadership is trying to project unity. After a caucus meeting in Abuja attended by Mark, Atiku, former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal and Rotimi Amaechi, the party directed all undecided members to resign from their existing parties. Peter Obi, a member of the coalition party, had yet to disclaim his membership of Labour Party (LP). Atiku is also yet to get his ADC membership even though he has resigned from PDP. National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed the new directive while addressing journalists in Abuja, after a caucus meeting attended by top party leaders and political figures. Abdullahi said, “Though final order has been given to all members to resign membership of other political parties, the caucus was silent on the timeline.” The caucus also announced that all issues concerning African Democratic Association (ADA) had been concluded. According to Abdullahi, “The coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association.” On the 2027 presidential race, Abdullahi said ADC’s presidential aspirants had agreed to back whoever emerged winner of the primaries. “All the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primaries election,” he stated. The ADC spokesman further revealed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) would soon announce dates for primaries in Osun and Ekiti states ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections in both states. Those present at the meeting included National Chairman, David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; and former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
They warned that the party’s forthcoming national convention in November would be “invalid” if their resolutions are not implemented.
Among the demands, the stakeholders stated that while they were satisfied with the party’s zoning arrangements, adopted by the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee must ensure that there is no form of micro-zoning “for peace and stability within the party.”
They added that the national party chairman position should remain in the North Central in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention.
“That on zoning of party offices, whereas we agree with the zoning committee’s recommendations, which were adopted by NEC, that the status quo remain, we further and very strongly hold that there should be no form of micro-zoning for peace and stability within the party.
“Consequently, the National Chairman of the party should remain in the North-Central in line with the zoning formula of the 2021 convention,” the communique read.
The stakeholders also called for fresh congresses to be held in Ebonyi and Anambra States and in the South-East zone, conducted by the National Working Committee, in line with court judgments, adding that the outcome of the South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, should also be upheld, while the Ekiti State local government congress should be conducted immediately.
“We call on the National Working Committee to urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States, in line with judgments of the courts”.
That a fresh and legitimate South-East Zonal Congress should be conducted. That the outcome of the valid and legitimate South-South Congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, and recognised by the court, be respected.
“That the Ekiti State Local Government Areas Congress should be conducted immediately, in obedience to the subsisting court judgement,” they added.
The group warned that failure to comply with the demands and their resolutions “shall render any purported national convention invalid, as legitimate members of the party would be disenfranchised.”
They maintained that leadership positions within the PDP must remain “open, inclusive, and competitive, while ensuring regional equity in accordance with the PDP’s long-standing traditions
But responding during the inauguration of the National Convention Planning Committee on Tuesday, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed declared that the PDP will not yield to arrogance, impunity, or divisive tendencies.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, Mohammed said that they are not cowards and are prepared to confront anyone who attempts to obstruct the party’s progress.
Mohammed insisted that the governors would not be distracted, stressing that the convention would proceed as planned.
Bauchi Governor stated, “We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody.
“We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others. We cannot continue to take part and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That’s our job.
“And our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse. And we are working as governors and working with the committee to ensure that. The keyword is discipline.
“We will no longer allow or tolerate anybody to take us for granted. It has to stop. Enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate it any longer”, he said.
