Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on the party leadership to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South. The stakeholders, who met in Abuja on Monday, made the demand in a communique read by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to the stakeholders, the party’s crisis is due to the refusal of some individuals to adhere to the party’s constitution. They cited specific sections of the constitution, including Section 36(1)(a)(b) and (c), Sections 47(3)(5) and 48(1)(i), and the definitive Supreme Court judgment regarding the position of the office of the National Secretary of the party.

The stakeholders expressed alarm that the party is on a path to self-annihilation if urgent steps are not taken to address the crisis. They resolved that the candidacy for the presidency in 2027 must be zoned to the South, in the spirit of fairness, inclusion, and federal character principles.

“In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal Character principles and respect for our party Constitution, the party must make an unequivocal announcement, zoning its Presidential Candidate to the South in the 2027 general election,” the communique read.

The stakeholders also reaffirmed Senator Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of the party, in line with the Supreme Court judgment. They stated that only Anyanwu can issue notices of meeting, and that any notices not issued by him are null and void.

“We, therefore, unequivocally reaffirm Senator Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of our great Party,” the communique read. “In line with the provisions of our party constitution only the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Caucus and the National Working Committee and to this end all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to INEC are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The stakeholders demanded that the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party jointly issue a notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, with an attached agenda for the National Executive Committee Meeting of the Party. They also urged all members to uphold the rule of law, respect constitutional mandate, and support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Senator Bukola Saraki.