PDP Crisis Deepens: NWC Declares Wike Camp’s S/South Zonal Congress Invalid

The congress, held over the weekend in Calabar, Cross River State, was deemed unauthorized by the PDP leadership. Among those in attendance were Wike, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, and the PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih.

The PDP has been plagued by internal divisions, with Wike and several governors locked in a battle for control of the party.

However, a senior party official, speaking anonymously to Daily Trust, suggested that recent events indicate a growing sense of unity within the NWC under Damagum’s leadership.

“If you’ve been following the party’s internal affairs, you would know that the NWC was previously divided, with some members siding with Wike. But since Samuel Anyanwu’s issues arose, the NWC has been speaking with one voice,” the source said.

Unlike past instances, the NWC did not issue conflicting statements regarding the disputed congress.

In an official statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, reiterated that the South-South Zonal Congress had been postponed and clarified that only the South-East and North-East congresses were scheduled.

Ologunagba emphasized that the party leadership would take appropriate action on the matter.

“We have made our position clear, and at the right time, the party will take necessary steps,” he stated.

Quoting the PDP constitution, he stressed that only the NWC has the power to schedule zonal congresses and urged party members, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the public to disregard claims emerging from the Calabar event.

However, Chief Dan Orbih refuted Ologunagba’s statement, insisting that the NWC had not met to deliberate on the congresses.

“I am a member of the NWC, and we have not met to discuss this issue. Ologunagba is merely expressing his opinion and should be ignored,” Orbih declared.