By Our Correspondent
A fresh crisis has erupted within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo state as federal lawmakers from the Southeast zone have threatened to boycott the exercise over alleged plans to hijack the National Woman Leader position originally zoned to the region.
The lawmakers accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of attempting to transfer the position from the Southeast to the South-South, describing the move as “a calculated provocation” against PDP members from the Southeast.
Lawmakers Allege Plot to Undermine Southeast
Spokesperson of the PDP opposition caucus in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, told journalists in Abuja, that the Southeast delegation would not attend the convention if the zoning arrangement is tampered with.
He said: “We will issue a disclaimer against the convention in two weeks and will not participate if Imo State and the entire Southeast are humiliated by those who want to rubbish a whole region
“There is still time to remedy this before Tuesday’s screening. No elected lawmaker from the Southeast will remain in the PDP if this impending insult is allowed to happen.”
According to Ugochinyere , the position of National Woman Leader was earlier zoned to the Southeast, with Mrs. Ifeyinwa Arodiogbu, the current PDP Zonal Woman Leader, widely endorsed to emerge as the consensus candidate.
He explained that the previous arrangement — which had favoured Enugu State — became void following the defection of Governor Peter Mbah and his preferred nominee to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Makinde Trying to Move Position to South-South”
Ugochinyere alleged that Governor Makinde is working behind the scenes to re-zone the position to the South-South, in defiance of the agreed power-sharing formula.
The angry Parliamentarian stressed “Now that Governor Mbah and his nominee are in the APC, it is only fair and logical that the Southeast, and specifically Imo State, should produce the National Woman Leader.
“But we are hearing disturbing reports that Governor Makinde wants to hand the position to the South-South. This is a slap on our face and an attempt to provoke the Southeast. We will not sit by and watch that happen.
He warned that if the matter is not resolved before the Ibadan convention, all Southeast PDP lawmakers would boycott the event, potentially deepening the ongoing leadership crisis within the opposition party.
Appeal to Party Leaders
The lawmakers urged Governors Makinde and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, who are regarded as senior PDP leaders in southern Nigeria, to intervene and restore confidence in the zoning process.
“This party cannot afford another setback. We are appealing to Governors Makinde and Adeleke to ensure fairness and uphold the existing zoning arrangement.
Denying the Southeast this position will be a grave political mistake, he insisted.
Party insiders fears that the issue, if not addressed swiftly, could further polarize the PDP, which is already struggling with internal divisions and defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ends .
