A group of influential stakeholders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the party to officially zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South in line with the principles of fairness, equity, and the party’s constitutional provisions.

The demand was made during a strategic meeting held in Abuja on Monday night, attended by several key party figures, including former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

In a communiqué read by Wike, the group also reaffirmed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the substantive national secretary of the PDP, dismissing other claims to the position.

“We therefore unequivocally affirm Senator Anyanwu as the truly elected substantive national secretary of our great party,” the communiqué stated.

The group emphasized that only Senator Anyanwu, as the legitimate national secretary, is constitutionally empowered to issue notices for national conventions, caucus meetings, and other critical party functions. They declared all notices and communications issued by anyone else, including to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as null and void.

This move comes amidst internal legal and political wrangling over the national secretary position. In December 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Sunday Udeh-Okoye, who had been nominated by the party’s South-East zonal executive to replace Anyanwu after the latter became the PDP governorship candidate in Imo State.

However, Anyanwu contested the decision, filing an appeal and a stay of execution at the Supreme Court. The legal tussle culminated in a March 2025 Supreme Court verdict, which ruled the matter as an internal party issue, striking out previous lower court judgments.

Despite the apex court’s ruling, PDP governors and the Board of Trustees (BoT) have thrown their weight behind Udeh-Okoye, with the governors recommending in April that Setonji Koshoedo serve as acting secretary pending final resolution.

On May 14, South-East PDP members threatened to withdraw from the party if Udeh-Okoye is not officially recognized, further deepening the division.

The PDP NEC, which is scheduled to meet on June 30, is expected to address both the call for southern zoning of the 2027 presidential ticket and the ongoing dispute over the secretaryship.

Insiders say the recent meeting, convened by Wike, is part of efforts to stall the planned August 28 national convention that would elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Although Wike remains a PDP member, his open alliance with President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fueled speculation about his broader political strategy and influence in shaping the PDP’s future direction.