Key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party stepped up consultations over the weekend in preparation for a decisive National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for today.
The meeting is expected to ratify the report of the zoning committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and affirm the party’s national convention slated for November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a bid to ensure alignment ahead of the 102nd NEC session, three major organs of the party—the National Working Committee, the National Caucus, and the Board of Trustees —held separate meetings on Sunday.
These consultations are aimed at harmonising key decisions before the main NEC gathering in Abuja.
A critical meeting of the seven PDP governors was also held on Saturday in Zamfara State, where the governors pledged to resist any attempt to derail the upcoming national convention. They reiterated their commitment to upholding the party’s unity and internal democracy.
The National Working Committee, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the party, comprises positions such as the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (South), National Secretary, National Treasurer, and National Youth Leader. Meanwhile, the PDP National Caucus includes serving and former governors, principal officers of the National Assembly, and members of the NWC and BoT.
Today’s NEC meeting is considered pivotal by party stakeholders, as it is expected to determine the zoning structure that will influence the allocation of key national positions, including the presidential ticket, between the North and South. For other party offices, micro-zoning within geopolitical zones is anticipated to promote inclusiveness and internal stability.
Last Thursday, PDP leaders from the South-West, South-South, and South-East convened in Lagos to present a united front ahead of the NEC meeting. Attendees included Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa). Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah was represented by his deputy.
Other notable figures at the Lagos meeting were former Akwa Ibom Governor Emmanuel Udom, former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former presidential candidate Ben Obi, and former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George. However, a separate faction of southern PDP leaders distanced themselves from the meeting and its resolutions.
According to the party’s timetable for the 2025 elective national convention, today’s NEC session will focus on reviewing and adopting the report of the 44-member zoning committee. If ratified, the party plans to begin zonal meetings from Tuesday, with deliberations on national offices expected to conclude by September 1.
As of Sunday, apart from the unified stance taken by PDP governors in support of proceeding with the November convention, other party organs had yet to issue further statements regarding the unfolding developments.
