Crisis Deepens as Wike Camp Disowns PDP Lagos Zoning Summit, Declares Decisions Void

Crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified as members loyal to former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, have disowned the planned zoning consultation meeting scheduled for Lagos on Thursday, declaring any decisions from it “null and void.”

The meeting, tagged the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit” and set for the Legend Hotel in Ikeja, was convened to deliberate on the sensitive issue of zoning within the party. But the Wike camp described the gathering as illegitimate, accusing its organisers of secrecy and exclusion in pursuit of narrow political ambitions.

In a statement endorsed by PDP state chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, along with the National Vice Chairman (South-East) and House of Representatives Minority Leader Hon. O.K. Chinda, the group said the Lagos summit undermined party unity and due process. Other signatories include Senators Igwe Nwagu, Mao Ohuabunwa, and George Sekibo, who faulted the sidelining of elected state chairmen, the party’s National Secretary, and several former governors long involved in major party decisions.

The controversy adds to the growing tensions between the Wike bloc and the PDP national leadership. Wike recently claimed he was unaware of the forthcoming national convention, a position that was punctured by a leaked letter showing the party had formally invited him. The party leadership has also refused to recognise a “kangaroo” South-South zonal congress organised by his loyalists, despite Wike’s insistence that it must be validated.

“It is highly regrettable and 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,” the statement read.

The Wike camp accused the summit conveners of violating the PDP’s founding principles of inclusivity and collective responsibility. They warned that any recognition of decisions taken at the Lagos meeting would be resisted with “full force” in line with the party’s constitution.

“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,” the statement added.

Reaffirming loyalty to the PDP, the group urged the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) to ignore the Lagos summit, describing it as “illegal” and “divisive.”