The National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party has distanced itself from a congress organised by the party’s South-South zonal executives in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, attended the congress, where he described the South-South as the PDP’s strongest hold.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP disowned the congress, stating that it was not an official party event.
“The attention of the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party has been drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River State, where the organisers falsely claimed it to be the South-South zonal congress of the PDP.
“To the contrary, the PDP states in clear terms that it has not conducted its South-South zonal congress, nor is it in any way involved in the said gathering in Calabar,” Ologunagba declared.
He further explained that the party had officially postponed the congress to allow broader consultations.
According to him, “For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC, at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in the exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), postponed the conduct of the South-South Zonal Congress from the previously scheduled date of Saturday, February 22, 2025, to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the zone.”
Ologunagba emphasised that the PDP’s constitution granted the NWC authority over such decisions.
He added, “For emphasis, the PDP states that it has not conducted its South-South Zonal Congress and has yet to communicate a date for the exercise.
“The PDP calls on all party members in the South-South Zone, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the media to disregard any gathering or outcome of any such gathering in Calabar, Cross River State, purported to be the South-South Zonal Congress of the PDP.
“Our party will, in due course, and through its official channels, communicate a new date for the conduct of the South-South Zonal Congress,” he added.
However, Wike rejected the claims that the PDP’s constitution permits the postponement of a congress.
He argued that no congress or convention had ever required the participation of every delegate.
The minister said, “The South-South Zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will always be. There is no part of the constitution that says a congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling.
“There has never been a congress where every delegate was present. The constitution does not state that the National Working Committee should conduct a congress, but rather the zone itself. I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the South-South Zone—after today’s election, no other zonal congress will be held.
“This is our job, our terrain, and we are not new to this. Nobody can intimidate me, and I don’t need to be a governor. Let us put ourselves together in truth and ensure our party remains united. We can only be united when we are truthful. Let us also shine our eyes and elect leaders who will unite and protect our party.”
