State Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, former governors, National Assembly members and other key stakeholders from Southern Nigeria, have disowned a zoning meeting scheduled for Lagos today.
The PDP leaders, in a statement jointly signed by party chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, alongside National Assembly leaders and other stakeholders, dismissed “any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes” purportedly emanating from the meeting as “neither binding on, or reflective of, the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria.”
They condemned the Lagos gathering, described as the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” insisting it was convened without proper consultation.
“The attention of the undersigned State Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the South and some critical stakeholders has been drawn to a meeting Nicodemously summoned in Lagos today, 21st August 2025, by some persons purporting to do so on behalf of PDP Members of the South tagged “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit” convened by the Admin Secretary, Zoning Committee of the PDP, at the behest of the Chairman Zoning Committee (H.E Senator Duoye Diri) at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
“The said meeting tagged “a summit” was allegedly convened in the name of the three geo-political zones of Southern Nigeria — South East, South South, and South West.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically dismiss any resolutions, communiqués, or outcomes purportedly emanating from this meeting as neither binding on, or reflective of, the collective will and aspirations of the PDP family across Southern Nigeria. Decisions reached in secrecy and exclusion cannot and shall not assume the authority of consensus,” the statement partly read
The statement noted that the meeting, allegedly summoned by the Zoning Committee’s Administrative Secretary at the behest of Chairman Senator Duoye Diri, was “deeply disturbing” because several state chairmen, national officers, principal lawmakers, and former governors were excluded.
“It is highly regrettable and indeed deeply disturbing that such a meeting was convened without the courtesy of inviting several State Chairmen from the South East and South South, as well as the duly elected National Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser of our great party.
“Even more troubling is the inexplicable exclusion of several national officers, eminent leaders, and critical stakeholders of the PDP. Such a brazen disregard for established structures and statutory organs of the PDP not only offends the spirit of collective decision-making but also risks undermining the very foundation upon which our party was built,” they said.
The signatories—including Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. O. K. Chinda; Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi; and former National Secretary Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe—warned that the Lagos parley was “premature and targeted at protecting the interest and selfish ambition of a select few.”
They further urged the PDP National Working Committee and National Executive Committee to disregard any outcome of the meeting, declaring it “illegal and divisive.”
“We call on the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, and all stakeholders of the party to disregard any outcome of the said meeting which is not only illegal but divisive.
“Take notice that where any iota of regard is given to the outcome of the purported meeting, we shall not hesitate to take appropriate steps in line with our party constitution to resist same with full force,” the statement concluded.
PUNCH
