The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gearing up for its national elective convention in August 2025, with a focus on maintaining stability and unity within the party. Governors and key party leaders are working to preserve the existing zoning structure for the National Working Committee (NWC), while also introducing a micro-zoning element to distribute positions across different states within each geopolitical zone. This strategy aims to refresh the leadership and prevent any single state from dominating particular offices. The early convention, scheduled for August 28-30 in Kano, is a response to recent leadership challenges and aims to quickly install a new NWC to steer the party forward.
The current NWC, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, will conclude its tenure in December. The decision to hold the convention earlier than initially planned underscores the party’s commitment to resolving internal tensions and presenting a united front. A zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, has been tasked with allocating the 19 NWC positions. Simultaneously, a separate convention committee, headed by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, will oversee the logistical and procedural aspects of the convention. The collaboration between these committees, alongside ongoing consultations with governors and other stakeholders, aims to ensure a smooth and transparent election process.
A key objective of the restructuring is to ensure that all 19 NWC members elected in August are fresh faces. This signifies a deliberate move to inject new blood and ideas into the party’s leadership. The intent is to break away from past controversies and allow individuals with a clean slate to guide the PDP. By bringing in new leadership, the party hopes to project an image of renewal and stability to the electorate. This emphasis on fresh faces also aligns with the party’s broader goal of fostering internal harmony and preventing the resurgence of past conflicts.
The proposed zoning arrangement seeks to maintain the current North-South balance of power within the NWC. The national chairman is expected to come from the North, most likely the North Central region, as their previous term was cut short by the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu. While the region remains the same, the specific state will be different, reflecting the micro-zoning principle. Similarly, the national secretary is slated for the South East, but not Imo State, the current holder of the position. This pattern of regional continuity with state-level rotation is expected to apply across all NWC positions.
This strategy reflects a delicate balancing act. The PDP seeks to maintain stability by respecting the existing North-South zoning formula, a framework designed to ensure equitable representation between the two broad geographical regions. However, by rotating specific positions among different states within those zones, the party aims to prevent power from being concentrated within a small group of states or individuals. This rotation serves a dual purpose: it offers opportunities for emerging leaders from different states and potentially mitigates the risks of entrenched interests that could hinder party unity and progress.
The ongoing consultations involving governors, the Board of Trustees (BOT), the National Assembly caucus, state chapters, and other party organs highlight the importance of consensus-building in this process. The PDP aims to ensure that the new zoning arrangement enjoys broad support across the party’s diverse constituents. The final recommendations will be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for approval, further solidifying the legitimacy of the new structure. The party’s constitution, as amended in 2017, outlines the composition and responsibilities of the NWC, emphasizing its role in the day-to-day administration of the party and its accountability to the NEC. This adherence to constitutional guidelines underscores the PDP’s commitment to internal democracy and transparency.
