FCT minister Nyesom Wike and other top PDP leaders have set conditions for the party leadership to ensure a valid and successful national convention.

According to the Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP, one of the key conditions is that the convention must be inclusive, and the position of the national chairman must remain in the North-Central zone.

The group’s position was detailed in a communiqué read by the former Governor Samuel Ortom, on behalf of the G-5 Governors at the end of their meeting, held on Monday night at the FCT Minister’s official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.

The party leaders and stakeholders stated that the meeting was convened to review the state of the PDP and assess critical issues ahead of the national convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.

They reaffirmed their collective commitment to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law — “values upon which the PDP was founded and upon which its continued relevance depends”.

The group stated that leadership positions within the party must remain open, inclusive, and competitive while ensuring regional balance in line with the PDP’s long-standing traditions. They warned that the PDP was at a critical crossroads, and its ability to reconcile internal disputes, uphold fairness, and respect constitutional processes would determine its future.

They noted that party unity could not be built on disenfranchisement, exclusion, or the disregard of valid judicial pronouncements. According to them, a credible national convention must be anchored on transparency, fairness, inclusivity, and strict adherence to the rule of law.

In its resolutions, the group called on the PDP National Working Committee to urgently conduct fresh, transparent, and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, in line with existing court judgements.

They also demanded the immediate organisation of a fresh and legitimate South-East zonal congress.

The party leaders, however, cautioned that failure to comply with the above resolutions and demands would render any purported national convention invalid, as legitimate party members would be disenfranchised.

They noted that the PDP was built on the foundation of inclusivity, fairness, and justice. The group added that to reclaim its pride of place as the leading opposition and the true alternative for Nigerians, the PDP must now rise above narrow interests and embrace collective responsibility.

At the meeting were former governors of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose; and PDP national secretary, Sam Anyanwu.

Also in attendance were the speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Phillips Aduda, as well as serving and former members of the National Assembly, including Micah Jiba, a lawmaker, and members of the party’s board of trustees.

The PDP National Executive Committee at its 102nd meeting held on August 25 in Abuja zoned its party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections to southern Nigeria and the national chairman to the north.

The NEC at the meeting also affirmed that all PDP national office positions currently held in the northern and southern parts of the country should be retained in their respective locations.

NEC also affirmed Umar Damagum as the substantive national chairman of the party, to serve in that capacity until the elective convention scheduled for November.

(NAN)