The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is grappling with renewed internal strife as southern leaders remain divided over the zoning of party offices and the 2027 presidential ticket. The disagreement comes ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The convention will be overseen by a 110-member committee chaired by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. While there is growing consensus that the party’s next presidential candidate should emerge from the South, sharp divisions have emerged over which southern sub-region—Southeast, South-South, or Southwest—should produce the flagbearer.
At a recent Southern Zoning Consultative Summit in Lagos, convened by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, some PDP leaders proposed a micro-zoning formula to allocate both party offices and the presidential ticket among the three southern zones.
However, this proposal has sparked backlash from other southern stakeholders, particularly from the South-South and Southeast. Critics of the Lagos summit accused the organizers of pushing a hidden agenda, allegedly aimed at positioning former President Goodluck Jonathan or Governor Makinde for a future presidential bid.
Governor Makinde, defending the initiative, stated that micro-zoning was one of several topics discussed and that all resolutions would be submitted to the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for consideration.
“Democracy allows the minority to have their say and the majority to have their way,” Makinde said, emphasizing that the process remains open to wider consultations. He added that PDP governors and leaders are focused on repositioning the party as a credible national alternative.
Responding to claims of exclusion, Makinde noted that Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke and Enugu Governor Peter Mbah were represented at the summit. He also highlighted that 12 out of 17 southern members of the PDP zoning committee were in attendance.
Despite these clarifications, some PDP leaders remain unconvinced. House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda rejected the summit’s outcome, arguing that it lacked legitimacy and did not represent the broader view of party stakeholders.
“We dismiss the resolution and outcome of the meeting. It is not binding and does not reflect the opinion of the majority,” Chinda said, describing the summit as divisive and unconstitutional.
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In a joint statement, state party chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, along with several former governors and national officers, also opposed the Lagos resolutions. They warned that decisions made “in secrecy and exclusion” undermine party unity.
“The PDP has always stood for inclusivity, equity, and collective responsibility,” the statement read. “Any process that sidelines key stakeholders and disregards national structures risks deepening division at a time unity is essential.”
As the PDP prepares for its critical convention, party unity appears increasingly fragile, with southern factions at odds over the path to 2027.
