PDP convention: Govs endorse zoning, plan NWC slot rotation

Ahead of the national elective convention of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled for August, The PUNCH has learnt that governors and other top members are working to keep the existing zoning structure of the National Working Committee.

Reliable sources within the party, who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorised to speak on the matter, revealed that while the current zoning arrangement was likely to be upheld, there was openness to further micro-zoning positions within the established zones.

With the tenure of the current NWC, led by acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, set to conclude in December, and to ease ongoing tensions within the party, the 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on May 27, 2025, approved that the early national convention be held from Thursday, August 28 to Saturday, August 30, 2025.

In the same meeting, the NEC also approved and ratified the formation of the zoning committee for the allocation of the 19 national party offices in preparation for the convention.

The zoning committee is chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, with Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, as Vice Chairman, and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, as Secretary.

Additionally, the National Convention Committee will be chaired by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, with Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, serving as Vice Chairman, and Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as Secretary.

The source disclosed that efforts were underway to ensure that the 19 NWC members who would be elected in August would be assuming their positions for the first time.

“As we speak, governors and party leaders across the states are consulting to ensure that the convention is free of rancour.

“We are holding an early August convention due to the leadership crisis. Ordinarily, we were supposed to elect new NWC members by November or December, but to reduce tensions and refocus the party, we will now elect new leaders at an early August elective convention in Kano,” he said.

The source added that the convention would usher in new leaders who would stabilise the party.

“We are making every effort to perfect the process and ensure it is peaceful.

“A critical part of this process is the zoning committee. From what I know, the committee, led by the governor of Bayelsa State, has already begun its work. They are consulting with other governors and party stakeholders.

“A majority of the leaders have agreed to retain the current zoning arrangement, so, the next national chairman will come from the North, most likely from the North Central region, as their tenure was cut short by Iyorchia Ayu’s resignation — though not necessarily from Benue State.

“The national secretary will come from the South East, but not from Imo State. The national organising secretary will be from the North West, but not from Sokoto State.

“The national legal adviser will also be zoned to the North Central, but not from Kwara State. Other positions will follow a similar pattern,” he added.

The source said that based on the consultations the committee has had with governors and party leaders, the current zoning arrangement between the North and South would be maintained, with micro-zoning applied across the six geopolitical zones.

“However, no state will retain the same position it currently holds in the next administration,” the source said.

Another source confirmed that maintaining the current zoning arrangement while reshuffling the states that received specific offices aimed at allowing new leaders to emerge and take charge of the party.

He stated, “Consultations are currently ongoing, and in a few weeks, the recommendations will be presented to the NEC.

“The widely supported zoning arrangement among governors and other stakeholders is to maintain the existing North-South division of party offices.

“Additionally, the micro-zoning formula across the geopolitical zones will remain, but the specific positions will be rotated among different states within each zone.

“The goal is to bring in new energy and leadership into the NWC. While the geopolitical zones in the North and South will keep their allocated positions, no individual state will retain the same office it currently holds.”

Efforts to get Diri did not yield results as the contact of his Chief Press Secretary was switched off at press time.

However, in response to questions from our correspondent, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed that consultations were still underway.

He promised that all relevant details would be disclosed at the appropriate time.

“I have told you that there’s a whole lot of different levels of consultation. And I am not going to preempt or prejudice those conversations by making direct commentary on what you have just referenced.

“So it would not be right for me to preempt and then prejudice what the outcome might be while we’re working on that.

“At the NEC, the NWC was mandated to begin the process of consultation and populating these committees. That is ongoing right now.

“Every organ of the party, the NWC, the BOT, the Governor’s Forum, the National Assembly caucus, the state chapters, the ex-officio members, they are all going to be part of that,” he said.

As contained in Chapter 4, Part VIII of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended, “There shall be a National Working Committee of the party which shall consist of the national chairman; two deputy national chairmen; the national secretary; the deputy national secretary; the national treasurer; the national financial secretary; the national organising secretary; the national publicity secretary; the national auditor; the national legal adviser; the national woman leader; the national youth leader; and the national vice chairmen.”

The constitution states that “The National Working Committee shall – be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the party and shall be responsible to the National Executive Committee; in case of emergency, act on behalf of the National Executive Committee subject to ratification by the National Executive Committee; and perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the National Executive Committee.”