The Peoples Democratic Party’s NWC has postponed its South-South zonal congress, which was scheduled earlier on Saturday.

PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He said a new exercise date would be announced in due course.

Mr Ologunagba said the postponement was necessitated by the need for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the zone.

“The NWC regrets any inconvenience the postponement of the South-South zonal congress would cause. A new date will be communicated in due course,” he said.

Mr Ologunagba, however, confirmed that the South-East and North-East zonal congresses would be held as already scheduled on Saturday at the party’s zonal headquarters in Enugu and Bauchi States, respectively.

He advised all aspirants, stakeholders, PDP leaders and members, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and security agencies to take note of the postponement and the Saturday congresses and be guided accordingly.

Meanwhile, the South-South zonal executive of the PDP said the zonal congress scheduled for Saturday has not been postponed, according to a statement by Ekom Akonjom, organising secretary of the PDP South-South Zone.

Mr Akonjom said on Friday, contrary to Mr Ologunagba’s claim, the congress would go ahead as planned. Mr Akonjom stated that Mr Ologunagba has no power to postpone the congress.

Therefore, The zonal organising secretary urged party stakeholders and all those expected to be at the congress to disregard the assertions of the party’s national publicity secretary.

He said the NWC did not have the power to interfere with the operations of the party’s zonal executive councils.

“We have noted a statement from our party’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, claiming that the South-South Zonal Congress in Calabar, Cross River, this Saturday, has been postponed.

“While it is his duty to convey party information, it must align with our party’s constitution. To clarify, the South-South zonal congress, which was approved by the zonal executive committee, will take place as scheduled.

“We urge the public and our delegates to ignore the statement from the national publicity secretary. The NWC does not possess the authority to summon zonal congresses, as specified in Article 27 (2) (c) of the party’s constitution.

“Furthermore, there has been no convening of the NWC meeting to discuss postponing the South-South zonal congress,” he said.

(NAN)