The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman for the South-South, Emmanuel Ogidi, has clarified that recent zoning consultations within the party are not binding until the National Executive Committee (NEC) gives its approval.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, Ogidi explained that the Lagos meeting which stirred controversy was convened by the Zoning Committee, not the NEC. According to him,
“The meeting was called by the Zoning Committee. The last NEC established the Zoning Committee, confirmed the membership, and after the inauguration on Thursday last week, they held their first meeting. And one of the issues reached at their first meeting was that… they should go to their North and South and make a consultation. That was what informed this meeting.”
He stressed that the consultative meeting was the first of its kind, noting, “Now, instead of having the meeting alone, the Zoning Committee members alone, they now invited three, one each chairman now from each zone. It’s a consultative meeting. This is the first time it is happening.”
On why the meeting was silent on zoning the presidential ticket for 2027, Ogidi insisted: “It hasn’t got there yet. Have you forgotten what NEC said? It’s too early. Campaigning and all of that. Yes, It’s too early.”
Responding to claims by some Lagos PDP stakeholders that the meeting’s decisions would not be binding, Ogidi said the outcome remains provisional until NEC deliberates: “Whatever they’ve done, we still have to come to the NEC. And the NEC will approve it. NEC can say, sorry, we don’t accept what you have done. You should go this way.”
He urged patience among party members, cautioning against unnecessary press briefings and divisions, “I want to advise our members, especially those who were at the press conference today, there was no need for that. There’s nothing as per it. There’s no quarter. Those hackings, there’s no need. Who are you reporting? What have we done? The four governors from the South, they’re there. And we need them. So, I’m advising them, they should have waited.”
Assuring PDP members and Nigerians of unity, Ogidi concluded: “I also tell our members, and then most of all the Nigerians, to still be patient with us, it will be resolved by God’s grace.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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