Zonal congresses: PDP internal wrangling threatens future electoral success
Despite the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, its zonal congresses in the South-South, South-East, and North-East saw both successes and divisions. While some regions experienced smooth processes, others deepened party polarisation. ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU X-ray the outcomes and the growing internal tensions within the party
The main opposition party has been struggling with internal issues both during and after the 2023 elections. As a result, its key organs, including the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, and Board of Trustees, have been largely divided, as have the zonal chapters.
Despite these challenges, the PDP remains focused on its activities, particularly in preparation for the 2025 National Elective Convention. On February 17, the party approved a timetable for zonal congresses to elect new Zonal Working Committees and National Ex-officio members.
According to a public notice from PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the NEC sanctioned the zonal congresses during its 592nd meeting, ahead of the expiration of the current zonal executives’ tenures in the South-South, South-East, and North-East zones.
The publicity scribe explained that “The zonal congress dates for the North-East, South-East, and South-South: Saturday, February 22, 2025. Appeal on Zonal Congresses: Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
“Zonal Congresses for North-Central and South-West: Saturday, March 22, 2025. Appeal on Zonal Congresses: Wednesday, March 26, 2025.”
N’East, S’East defy court orders
Following the timetable set by the NEC and announced by the NWC, the North East chapters of the PDP, led by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, began preparations to conduct the congress.
However, just a day before the event, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order, preventing the party from holding its elective zonal congress. Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the PDP and its leadership must maintain the status quo until further proceedings on February 25, 2025. The ruling, in case No: FHC/ABJCS/298/2025 sought to stop the election of zonal committee members and national ex-officio representatives.
Despite the setback, the party, after considering the legal implications, went ahead with the congress at Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi. On February 22, Babangida Umar was elected as the new North East Zonal Chairman. As part of the party’s consensus arrangement, all 22 leadership positions were filled unopposed.
The congress was attended by key PDP leaders, including Damagum, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the governors of Adamawa and Taraba states, Ahmadu Fintiri and Agbu Kefas, respectively.
In the South East, the Federal Capital Territory High Court also issued a restraining order, preventing the PDP from holding its zonal congress.
The ruling was made on an ex parte motion in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/325/2025, filed by Mike Nathan Nwankwo. Justice S. B. Belgore directed that all parties involved in the case—including the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, former National Vice Chairman of the South-East PDP, Chief Ali Odefa, and two other individuals, along with their agents—must maintain the status quo until the main case is resolved.
On Wednesday, the PDP held its South-East zonal congress in Enugu, reaffirming Ali Odefa as the Zonal Chairman.
The congress, which took place at Michael Okpara Square, was attended by party delegates from the five southeast states, alongside key stakeholders, including Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara.
In his address, Mbah, the lone PDP governor in the zone, underscored the need for unity within the party.
He stated, “When we describe the PDP as a great party, it is not just a slogan. The party’s strength lies in its ability to reinvent itself and maintain national appeal despite challenges.
“We understand the expectations of our people in a democracy, and at the core of it is good governance. That has been the PDP’s commitment since its inception.”
The congress saw all 22 zonal positions filled unopposed, with James Ugwu retaining his position as Zonal Secretary.
S’South ‘controversial congress’
Similar to the South-East and North-East cases, on February 21, 2025, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued a restraining order, preventing the party and the National Vice Chairman of the South-South, Dan Orbih, from holding the zonal congress.
The claimants in the case, marked PHC/551/CS/2025, were PDP members from Rivers State, Tonu Ejiogu and Field Nkor. However, despite the court’s ruling, the party proceeded with the congress.
The chairman of the electoral committee, Vita Abba, announced that Orbih won the election with 174 votes. Other elected officials included Alabah Turnah (Secretary), Evelyn Weke (Treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (Financial Secretary), Timothy Okwoche (Organising Secretary), Iyrneri Briggs (Legal Adviser), Etim Isong (Publicity Secretary), Loveday Abaribote (Auditor), Phenomena Esubok (Woman Leader), and Patrick Asuquo (Youth Leader).
Former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who supported and attended the congress in Calabar, Cross River State, described the South-South as the PDP’s strongest base, asserting that no other congress would be held in the region.
In response, after receiving communications from the South-South PDP Governors, the NWC, in a statement issued by National Secretary, Ologunagba, on February 22, distanced itself from the congress.
It stated, “To the contrary, the PDP states in clear terms that it has neither conducted its South-South zonal congress nor is it in any way involved in the said gathering in Calabar.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC, at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in exercise of its powers under Section 29(2)(b), pursuant to Section 31(2)(c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), postponed the conduct of the south-south zonal congress from the earlier scheduled date of Saturday, February 22, 2025, to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the Congress in the Zone.
“For emphasis, therefore, the PDP states that it has not conducted its South-South zonal congress and it has yet to communicate a date for the exercise.
“The PDP calls on all party members in the South-South zone, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the media to disregard any gathering or outcome of any such gathering in Calabar, Cross River State, purported to be the South-South zonal congress of the PDP.”
In a letter dated February 20, the Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, Sunday Ude-Okoye, informed the Chairman of INEC that, due to operational challenges and unforeseen circumstances, the previously scheduled South-South zonal congress would not take place as planned.
The letter, which was exclusively obtained by The PUNCH, was received by INEC on Tuesday and was partially titled “Rescheduling of South-South Zonal Congress.”
The letter read in part: “The commission may recall our earlier correspondence, reference: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1E/24-293, dated Monday, October 7, 2024, in which we notified the commission of our planned zonal congresses in the North-East, South-East, South-South, North-Central, and South-West zonal chapters of our party for the purpose of electing new Zonal Executive Committee members and National Ex-Officios in the affected zones.
“We now wish to formally inform the commission that, due to operational constraints and unforeseen circumstances, the South-South zonal congress will not hold as scheduled. We shall communicate a new date and venue to the commission once it is fixed.”
Despite the court order, the NWC statement, the letter to INEC, and the notable absence of the governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, Wike’s allies, Orbih, and the elected officials maintained that their election was legitimate.
PDP’s bleak future
Although the party can point to some successes in certain congresses, it is becoming increasingly clear to nearly all its members that rather than the crisis diminishing, it has continued to spread and deeply affecting the party.
Political analysts, who recall that both the ward and state congresses were marred by crises and numerous legal battles, believe that if these issues are not addressed swiftly, the National Elective Convention scheduled for later this year could experience similar, if not more severe problems.
Some chieftains of the party had been clamouring for reforms to ensure the party stayed afloat.
A chieftain and BoT member, Olabode George, expressed concern over the internal crisis within the party, stating that personal ambitions are damaging its prospects.
Speaking on Arise TV, George also called for the establishment of a committee to resolve the ongoing rift between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye over the position of PDP’s National Secretary.
The controversial South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Orbih, speaking after the Calabar congress, said that the ongoing crisis plaguing the party was self-inflicted.
He noted that the party’s constitution had been disregarded in favour of personal interests by a few members.
He then called for the election of officers who would uphold the party’s constitution in the zone, stressing that such individuals must also have the fear of God.
