Chairmanship Zoning, Ologbondiyan Warns
By MUHAMMED DANBABA
Opposition Party Risks Further Division Ahead of 2027 Elections
February 6, 2025 – Abuja, Nigeria – Amid the unresolved crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan has warned that the party may face an even deeper crisis if it fails to address a critical issue that contributed to its defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
Ologbondiyan, speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, February 6, 2025, stated that the zoning of the PDP’s national chairmanship to the North Central region is crucial to maintaining stability within the party.
PDP’s Lingering Crisis: A Party in Disarray
Since its 2022 national convention, which saw Atiku Abubakar emerge as the party’s presidential candidate, the PDP has been grappling with internal power struggles and defections. The party’s G5 faction, led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, worked against Atiku’s candidacy, deepening the internal rift.
Adding to the turmoil, the party is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the national secretary position, with Sunday Ude-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu both laying claim to the seat.
Ologbondiyan: PDP Must Zone Chairmanship to North Central
Ologbondiyan strongly emphasized that failure to return the national chairmanship to North Central—a position previously held by Senator Iyorchia Ayu—could plunge the party into another round of instability.
“We saw it coming, and anyone interested in the PDP’s survival cannot claim to be unaware. The North Central must be allowed to take over the national chairmanship, even if only for a short period,” he stated.
“Otherwise, the same issues that led to the G5 rebellion will resurface. It may take a different form, but history will record that the PDP was unjust to the North Central region.”
Board of Trustees Steps In Amid Legal Battles
As part of efforts to stabilize the party, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has directed the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately swear in Sunday Ude-Okoye as substantive national secretary—in line with a judgment by the Enugu High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
However, it remains to be seen whether this directive will ease tensions or further deepen the divide within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
