Key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Southern Nigeria, including state chairmen, former governors, National Assembly members and other stakeholders, have distanced themselves from a zoning meeting scheduled to hold in Lagos.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, August 21, the party chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, alongside National Assembly leaders and other prominent stakeholders, rejected what was described as the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit.”
“The attention of the undersigned State Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the South and some critical stakeholders has been drawn to a meeting Nicodemously summoned in Lagos today, 21st August 2025, by some persons purporting to do so on behalf of PDP Members of the South tagged ‘PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit’ convened by the Admin Secretary, Zoning Committee of the PDP, at the behest of the Chairman Zoning Committee (H.E Senator Duoye Diri) at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos,” the statement read.
The leaders argued that the meeting, allegedly convened by the Administrative Secretary of the Zoning Committee at the instance of Senator Duoye Diri, was done in secrecy and excluded critical voices within the party.
“The said meeting tagged ‘a summit’ was allegedly convened in the name of the three geo-political zones of Southern Nigeria — South East, South South, and South West.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically dismiss any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from this meeting as neither binding on, or reflective of, the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria.
“Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus,” they added.
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The stakeholders expressed concern that several state chairmen, national officers, principal lawmakers and even former governors were excluded from the process.
“It is highly regrettable and indeed deeply disturbing that such a meeting was convened without the courtesy of inviting several State Chairmen from the South East and South South, as well as the duly elected National Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser of our great party.
“Even more troubling is the inexplicable exclusion of several national officers, eminent leaders, and critical stakeholders of the PDP.
“Such a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP not only offends the spirit of collective decision-making but also risks undermining the very foundation upon which our party was built,” the statement further read.
The signatories to the statement included House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. O. K. Chinda; Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi; and former National Secretary, Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe.
They warned that the Lagos gathering was “premature and targeted at protecting the interest and selfish ambition of a select few.”
The leaders urged the PDP National Working Committee and National Executive Committee to disregard any outcomes from the meeting, which they described as “illegal and divisive.”
“We call on the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, and all stakeholders of the party to disregard any outcome of the said meeting which is not only illegal but divisive.
“Take notice that where any iota of regard is given to the outcome of the purported meeting, we shall not hesitate to take appropriate steps in line with our party constitution to resist same with full force,” the statement concluded.