STORM HITS PDP AGAIN AS SOUTHEAST LAWMAKERS THREATEN TO BOYCOTT CONVENTION OVER WOMAN LEADER POSITION

A fresh crisis is threatening the upcoming national convention of the People’s Democratic Party as federal lawmakers from the Southeast have vowed to boycott the event. The boycott threat stems from an alleged plot to hijack the National Woman Leader position originally zoned to the Southeast region.

The lawmakers have specifically accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of attempting to transfer the position to the South-South. They described this move as a calculated provocation against PDP members from the Southeast.

Spokesperson of the PDP opposition caucus in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, addressed journalists in Abuja on the matter. He stated that the Southeast delegation would not attend the convention if the zoning arrangement is tampered with.

“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,” Ugochinyere said. “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 was initially zoned to the Southeast with Mrs. Ifeyinwa Arodiogbu, the current PDP Zonal Woman Leader, widely endorsed as the consensus candidate. He explained that the previous arrangement favoring Enugu State became void after Governor Peter Mbah and his preferred nominee defected to the All Progressives Congress.

“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,” Ugochinyere explained. “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.”

The lawmakers have appealed to Governors Makinde and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to intervene and restore confidence in the zoning process. Party insiders fear the issue could further polarize the PDP if not quickly resolved, potentially deepening the opposition party’s ongoing leadership crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.