The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday hosted a crucial meeting in Abuja with stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the banner of “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP.”
The gathering concluded with a strong demand that the party zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
The high-level meeting, which lasted several hours, produced a communique calling for greater internal democracy and adherence to party principles.
The group also insisted that the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, issue a notice for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Wike, who read the communique, emphasized the group’s demand for fairness and balance in the party’s future plans.
“In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution, the Party must make an unequivocal pronouncement zoning its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections after the unbroken years of Northern President under President Muhammadu Buhari,” he stated.
The communique also stressed that “only the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Caucus and the National Working Committee and to this end all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to INEC are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
While it remained unclear if Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, a key G5 member, was present, his G5 colleagues—former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)—attended, along with Senator Anyanwu, former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda, and other serving and former lawmakers and party executives.
The stakeholders condemned what they described as persistent disregard for the PDP constitution, citing sections 36(1)(a)(b)(c), 47(3)(5), and 48(1)(i), as well as a Supreme Court ruling on the position of National Secretary.
They warned of imminent collapse if the party fails to act decisively.
“The Eminent Stakeholders and Concerned Leaders are alarmed that the party is on an inevitable path to self-annihilation if urgent steps are not taken to rein in the desperate, divisive and selfish tendencies that brought the party to its knees in the lead-up to the 2023 election,” the communique read.
They reaffirmed Senator Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary and called for a proper NEC meeting in accordance with party rules.
“It is clear from the Constitution that only the National Convention, properly and duly constituted, can remove Senator Sam Anyanwu”
“We therefore demand that the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary jointly issue a notice to INEC with an attached agenda for the National Executive Committee Meeting of the Party being the only pathway to abide by extant laws.”
The group urged party members to resist efforts to destabilize the PDP and backed the reconciliation efforts led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
“We, the stakeholders, reiterate our commitment to our great party and urge all members to uphold the rule of law, respect constitutional mandate, resist all machinations aimed at destabilizing the party and support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by His Excellency, Senator Bukola Saraki.”
Earlier in the meeting, Wike welcomed attendees by stressing their commitment to the party’s future.
“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party not just on TV talking or on the newspapers talking but committed to the party at the various levels.”
He credited the G5 governors with stabilizing the country through tough decisions.
“You may like us, you may hate us. The truth of the matter is if G5 did not take the decision we took, this country would have been in crisis. It doesn’t matter who the beneficiary was but the right thing had to be done and we still stand by that decision.”
Criticizing impunity within the party, Wike added, “If the party had listened to what we said, we won’t have been where we are today… Let us not allow greed, let us not allow ego to kill our party.”
He also questioned the controversy over the National Secretary role, citing precedents.
“Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State was the chairman of the party in the state and he did not resign before contesting for Governorship but only went back to resign after winning the election”
“The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, also contested for the Kebbi state governorship and retained his seat even after losing the election.”
Former Governor Ortom lent strong support to Wike, saying, “He who pays the piper dictates the tune.”
He challenged critics to name anyone who had done more for the PDP than Wike and added, “The president understands that the country cannot be a one-party state which was why he appointed Wike into a very sensitive position as the FCT minister.”
He concluded bluntly: “For whatever reason, PDP made a lot of mistakes and we are where we are today.”
