Amid the growing tension over the forthcoming national convention slated for November in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party have resolved to zone the national chairmanship position to the North -West in a move aimed at unifying the party ahead of the crucial exercise.

The PUNCH gathered from PDP leaders, who are also involved in the transition process, that during the Northern stakeholders? meeting held in Abuja last weekend, it was agreed that the North-West zone should produce the party?s national chairman, while the three northern zones would this week decide on the consensus candidates for all key positions.

Party insiders disclosed that the North-West zone was expected to choose among former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki (SAN), and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, with Turaki reportedly enjoying an early majority support in the contest.

A top party official with direct knowledge of the issue told The PUNCH that Turaki was likely to emerge as the next PDP national chairman, adding that he enjoyed the backing of key stakeholders, including the few governors now left in the party.

He stated, ?The noise and tension in the party ahead of the convention are expected because it?s a democratic setting where members? interests naturally differ. With an elective convention coming up in November in Ibadan, such disagreements are not unusual.

?However, despite these tensions, the party is making progress. Stakeholders are meeting, and discussions are ongoing about zoning and sharing of positions.

?Over the weekend, northern leaders, including governors, former governors, serving senators and former principal officers of the National Assembly met in Abuja to deliberate on the region?s position, particularly concerning the office of the national chairman, which is the most senior position in the party.

It was agreed that the position of national chairman should be micro-zoned to the North-West.

?Consequently, the zone is expected to produce the next national chairman of the party. As of now, the major contenders include the former Minister of Special Duties, who enjoys the support of several governors and majority of members from the North-West and beyond, Turaki is likely going to be the next PDP National Chairman. Also, the former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; and former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi, are also in the race.

?The final decision will be made after the various zones conclude their consultations. The North-West, North-East, North-Central, and South-West are all expected to meet and produce consensus candidates for their respective positions. Before the weekends, the list of consensus candidates, including that of the national chairman, is expected to be ready. Don?t forget that the committee is still selling forms. If things go as expected in Turaki?s favour, he will resign from his current position as Co-Chairman of the National Convention Organizing Committee to pick the form.?

The North currently occupies key National Working Committee positions, including the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (North), National Legal Adviser, National Organizing Secretary, National Youth Leader, and National Treasurer, as well as the National Vice Chairmen representing the North-East, North-West, and North-Central zones.

Although the party has resolved to hold the event in Ibadan, dissatisfaction persists particularly among supporters of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who remains displeased with the leadership of the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum.

Wike?s loyalists are reportedly angered by the lingering leadership disputes in the South-South, battles over control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and other states, as well as disagreements surrounding the micro-zoning of elective offices ahead of the convention.

FHC adjourns hearing

These internal crises have now escalated into a legal confrontation. In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/25, PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia states, Austin Nwachukwu and Amah Nnanna, along with South-South Zonal Secretary, Turnah George, accused the Damagum-led National Working Committee of breaching the party?s constitution and internal election procedures.

The case, presided over by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was adjourned to October 16 following a disagreement over who was legally authorised to represent the PDP.

The party?s Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and Chief Chris Uche (SAN) claimed to be the rightful counsel. This made the judge to direct them to present evidence of authorisation before the next hearing on October 20.

Meanwhile, a letter dated October 16 and signed by 14 members of the NWC reaffirmed the decision to remove Ajibade and appoint Chief Uche (SAN) as his replacement. Ajibade, however, maintained that only a national convention had the authority to remove him.

In a fresh twist, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed October 31 for judgment of the suit seeking to halt the Ibadan convention over alleged violations of the party?s constitution.

Justice Omotosho set the date after hearing arguments for and against the suit filed by three aggrieved party members.

The plaintiffs ? Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) ? are asking the court to stop the convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.

The plaintiffs alleged that the planned convention breached the PDP Constitution.

The nine defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission; the PDP; the party?s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature; the National Working Committee; the National Executive Committee; Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.

During Tuesday?s proceedings, Justice Omotosho reaffirmed his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the convention, warning that he would not hesitate to nullify any action taken in violation of the court?s directive.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court not to dismiss the case as a mere internal party matter but to view it as an effort to enforce compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP Constitution.

Daudu argued that the Nigerian Constitution mandated INEC to monitor the congresses of political parties before they can be deemed valid.

He maintained that no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states before the PDP?s NWC and NEC issued the notice for the November convention.

However, the party?s acting chairman, Damagum, represented by Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that issues relating to conventions and congresses were internal party affairs.

This position was supported by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who represented the PDP?s NWC and NEC, insisting that the courts lacked the authority to intervene in the party?s internal matters.

In a related development, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Department of State Services, denying that he signed the August 29 letter notifying INEC of the planned convention and requesting an investigation into the alleged forgery of the letter.

Regardless of the party?s dismissal of Anyanwu?s claims and endorsement of a probe of his allegation by the Department of State Services, the developments have deepened uncertainty over the convention, raising fears that the internal wrangling, forgery allegations and court disputes could derail the preparations for the PDP?s leadership transition.

Consensus arrangement

Speaking on the consensus arrangement that would lead to the emergence of the next party chairman, a PDP chieftain from the North-West, explained that the decision does not stop anyone from contesting, noting that any party member from any zone who is unhappy with the arrangement is free to run for any position of his choice.

?The PDP constitution allows for both consensus and open contest, giving stakeholders room to agree while respecting the rights of others to contest,? he added.

Another party leader from the North, who also corroborated the development, told The PUNCH, ?During our recent meeting, the majority agreed that the position of national chairman should be zoned to the North-West.

?Other positions were also micro-zoned in a kind of swap arrangement; some offices initially allocated to the North-West were moved to other geopolitical zones. The leaders of the three northern zones ? North-West, North-East, and North-Central ? will now convene separate meetings within their zones this week to decide on consensus candidates for the various positions.

?As of now, the former Minister of Special Duties (Turakin) is in the race and may emerge chairman as he enjoys majority support, while some party leaders are also supporting Lamido for the position of national chairman. Also in the race from the North-West is former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi.

?When the North-West leaders meet later this week, they are expected to agree on a consensus candidate. However, that will not prevent others from contesting as anyone who disagrees with the consensus is free to participate. That is the beauty of democracy. So, that is the stage we are at now.?

Confirming the micro-zoning arrangement, a former PDP National Secretary, Ibrahim Umar Tsauri, explained that the positions initially zoned to the North-West had been further micro-zoned to the North-East, while those for the North-Central have been allocated to the North- West.

Tsauri, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, stated, ?Yes, the majority agreed that the national chairman should go to the North-West, but a few people have reservations and say they have a minority stance. But the majority agreed with that. In fact, as far as the Northern Caucus is concerned, the position has been micro-zoned to the North-West.

?The North-Central wanted to have the national chairman, but the majority supported the North-West because the contest was between North-Central and North-West. What the party leaders for the North did was: all the positions currently occupied by people from the North-West go to the North-East, and those from the North-East go to the North-Central; the positions of the North- Central have been zoned to the North-West. It is now the prerogative of the zones to do what we call consensus.?

When asked about the candidates, the former PDP national secretary explained that the zonal leaders would make an announcement soon.

He stated, ?You?ll have to wait until the time comes. It?s not for you to know now because this is an internal matter. We don?t bring it out until we finish, likely before Monday, you will be able to know.

?Even without asking me, you?ll know those who are interested or the person they?ll zero in on. Each zone will look at who is going to take which position and report when the Chairman of the Convention Committee calls us. Definitely, whatever is going to be done will be done within the week.

?All those positions zoned to North-Central, North-West, and North-East will be brought to the same Northern Caucus. Then, we?ll announce the consensus candidates who are going to contest.

?But if someone feels uncomfortable with the arrangement, he?s free to contest. Zoning is only meant to avoid unnecessary conflicts. That?s our interest, that?s why we are micro-zoning.?

Reacting to the situation in the party, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed talks of a crisis, stating that the November convention would mark the beginning of a renewed and stronger party.

He stated, ?There are no issues in our party. Everything happening shows that the party is a democratic one, and it allows people to contest their opinions, express their views, and abide by their interests. And that?s what is important.

?What is important to us is that the convention will hold on November 15 and 16 as scheduled in Ibadan, and we are going to elect a new set of leaders. This convention will pick new leaders that will position the party, and Nigerians are interested in what is going on.

?They are interested in the affairs of the party. They are interested in what the party leadership is doing. They are interested in the convention because they are tired of the clueless All Progressives Congress administration, and they are looking up to the PDP to return and change things for good. (The PUNCH)

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