The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to retain its national chairmanship position in the North.
This decision followed the recommendation of the party’s zoning committee, which advised that the existing arrangement of the 19 national offices across the six geopolitical zones should be maintained.
The 44-member committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, was inaugurated on August 14 in Abuja. The panel is expected to submit its report to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party at its meeting on Monday.
Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, while inaugurating the committee, said the panel was set up to ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of National Working Committee (NWC) positions. He noted that the outcome could also shape which region may produce the party’s presidential candidate in 2027.
The PDP has consistently applied zoning in the allocation of its leadership positions, including its presidential ticket. However, disputes over zoning were partly responsible for the internal crisis that rocked the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The disagreement, led by five governors under then Rivers State Governor and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, opposed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate. The crisis eventually led to the removal of the then National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
Following Ayu’s exit, Damagum, from Yobe State, was appointed Acting National Chairman on March 28, 2023.
A top party official, who attended the PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit in Lagos on Thursday, told our correspondent that the zoning committee had resolved to leave existing positions in their current regions.
“They have decided that positions in the North should remain in the North, and those in the South should stay in the South. At this point, when the party is trying to unite, it would be difficult to start reassigning offices. The decision was unanimous and commendable,” the source said.
The official, who declined to be named, further confirmed that the national chairmanship position will remain in the North.
