Tension In PDP: South-South Zonal Congress Still On Hold

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted claims of conducting a South-South Zonal Congress.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement issued on Saturday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba clarified that no such congress has taken place.

Reports had surfaced that Dan Orbih, PDP’s South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, alongside FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, and others, held a Zonal Congress in Cross River State.

Reacting to this, the PDP spokesperson dismissed the gathering as a mere social event, emphasizing that the party had neither conducted the South-South Zonal Congress nor endorsed the meeting in Calabar.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC, at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, exercised its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), and resolved to postpone the South-South Zonal Congress from its earlier scheduled date of Saturday, February 22, 2025 to allow for further consultations on crucial matters necessary for a smooth congress,” Ologunagba stated.

He further explained that:

• Section 29 (2)(b) empowers the NWC to act on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in emergencies, subject to NEC ratification.
• Section 31(2)(c) mandates the NEC to supervise all party organs, including National, Zonal, State, and Local Government levels.
• Section 31(2)(j) authorizes the NEC to establish electoral regulations governing elections to party offices and the selection of candidates.

“For emphasis, the PDP reiterates that it has not conducted the South-South Zonal Congress and has yet to announce a new date for the exercise,” Ologunagba added.

He urged party members, INEC, security agencies, and the media to disregard any gathering or purported outcome of an event in Calabar claiming to be the South-South Zonal Congress.

The PDP assured that a new date for the congress would be communicated through its official channels in due course.