State Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), former governors, National Assembly members, and other notable stakeholders from Southern Nigeria have officially disowned a meeting scheduled for Lagos on 21st August 2025, aimed at discussing zoning of party positions. The announcement came through a press statement signed by State Chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, alongside key national officers and lawmakers.
The statement stressed that any resolutions or outcomes from the purported “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit” convened at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, would not be binding or reflective of the collective will of PDP stakeholders in Southern Nigeria.
The Lagos meeting, allegedly convened by the Administrative Secretary of the PDP Zoning Committee under the direction of Senator Duoye Diri, purported to represent the three geopolitical zones of Southern Nigeria — South East, South South, and South West.
Southern PDP leaders condemned the meeting, citing the exclusion of several State Chairmen from South East and South South, the National Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser, former governors, ranking lawmakers, and other principal party officers. They described the exclusion as deeply disturbing and contrary to the party’s principles of inclusivity, consultation, and collective decision-making.
The signatories warned that decisions made in secrecy and exclusion cannot assume the authority of consensus, emphasizing that any effort to bypass legitimate structures could undermine party cohesion and fuel internal divisions.
Southern PDP leaders stressed that the party’s founding values of equity, consultation, and collective responsibility must guide all decision-making.
Former governors, National Assembly members, and other stakeholders highlighted the need for inclusive discussions on zoning, power rotation, and political equity.
The statement described the Lagos summit as a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP, warning that such actions erode trust and threaten unity.
Zoning and power rotation have historically been sensitive issues within the PDP, reflecting the party’s commitment to regional balance, representation, and internal democracy. Attempts to make unilateral decisions without broad consultation risk fracturing party unity, especially as Nigeria approaches future elections. Analysts say that inclusive stakeholder engagement is critical to maintaining credibility and cohesion in one of the country’s major political parties.
Southern PDP leaders’ disownment of the Lagos zoning meeting underscores the importance of transparency, inclusivity, and adherence to party structures. The statement sends a clear warning that decisions made in exclusion cannot dictate party policy, emphasizing the need for collective decision-making, respect for institutional authority, and unity ahead of Nigeria’s political contests.
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