North-Central PDP Leaders Protest Marginalisation, Demand Chairmanship Slot

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from the North-Central geopolitical zone have protested against what they described as the zone’s systemic marginalisation and external forces’ meddling in its internal political affairs.

They said such interference threatened the foundational principles of justice, equity, and internal democracy within the party.

At an emergency meeting held in Abuja, the North-Central leaders comprising serving members of the National Assembly, former Governors, former Ministers, members of the Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), and several State Party Chairmen deliberated extensively on the state of the PDP and the role of the zone ahead of the forthcoming Elective National Convention.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, signed by Chief Adakole Ijogi on behalf of North-Central PDP Stakeholders, the leaders drew attention to what they called a glaring contrast between the stability of the southern caucuses and the growing discord in the northern fold.

They recalled that on 22 August 2025, the Southern PDP Caucus held a successful and transparent micro-zoning meeting in Lagos State. All allocated National Working Committee (NWC) positions were amicably shared during this meeting, demonstrating unity, discipline, and organisational maturity.

They lamented that the divisive and dangerous sentiments are engineered by external actors intent on weakening the region’s cohesion ahead of the crucial Ibadan Convention.

After deliberations, the North-Central leaders unanimously resolved that the PDP’s northern leadership must convene a Northern Caucus meeting as soon as possible to foster genuine dialogue, address the lingering zoning impasse, and rebuild trust across the region.

“After reviewing the state of the party and the imperative for equity, the North-Central PDP leaders unanimously resolved as follows:

“The Northern leadership of the Party is called upon to, as a matter of urgency, convene a Northern Caucus meeting. This is critical to facilitate genuine dialogue, address the lingering zoning impasse, and present a united front.

‘The leaders firmly and unequivocally resolved that the position of the National Chairman of the PDP must be zoned to and remain in the North-Central Zone.

“This demand is rooted in a verifiable injustice: following the events of 2022, the North Central-Zone was unjustly not allowed to complete its constitutionally mandated tenure for the National Chairman position.

“Correcting this anomaly is a fundamental requirement for justice and fair play, and the zone is poised to reclaim its mandate,” the communique stated.

They further stressed that such engagement was vital to restoring internal order and ensuring that the zone’s interests are adequately represented as the party moves towards its convention.

The meeting also expressed complete confidence in the 2025 National Convention Planning Committee, chaired by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, reaffirmed total support for the Ibadan Convention.

The leaders strongly condemned the actions of some individuals driven by personal ambitions who, according to them, are attempting to derail the process. They declared that the forthcoming convention is “a moving train that cannot be stopped by selfish interests,” underscoring their commitment to the collective vision of rebuilding the PDP.

The leaders also expressed concern over the orchestrated wave of defections sweeping the political landscape. They warned that the trend poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s democracy, describing it as a calculated effort to weaken opposition and gradually transform the country into a one-party state, an outcome they characterised as a slide towards democratic dictatorship.