The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is about to suffer another major setback as Federal lawmakers from the Southeast region threatened to boycott the party’s forthcoming National Convention in Ibadan over alleged moves to rezone the position of National Woman Leader from the Southeast to the South-South.
Naijaonpoint reports that the lawmakers, led by the member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of masterminding the move to alter the existing zoning arrangement.
They described the move as an attempt to “humiliate and alienate the Southeast” within the party, warning that the PDP risks deeper disunity and mass defections if the decision is not reversed before the screening exercise scheduled to take place soon.
“We don’t want to see PDP suffer more setbacks, but we will stand our ground if, in the coming weeks, the position of National Woman Leader is not ceded to Imo State and an Imo person allowed to emerge,” Ugochinyere warned.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Ugochinyere explained that the position of National Woman Leader was originally zoned to the Southeast, with Imo State expected to produce the next occupant.
He said the current Southeast Zonal Woman Leader, Ifeyinwa Arodiogbu, had been unanimously endorsed by regional stakeholders before Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, now in the All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly influenced the zoning to his state.
“Now that Governor Mbah has left for APC, that earlier arrangement of producing a Woman Leader is not going to stand because Mbah’s nominee is also in the APC with him,” he stated.
“This brings back a chance for the injustice to be addressed and for Imo State to produce the National Woman Leader.”
Ugochinyere maintained that Imo State now has the rightful claim to the position, as the previous zoning was no longer valid following Mbah’s defection.
The lawmakers warned that if the PDP leadership proceeds with the current plan, they would issue a disclaimer against the Ibadan convention within two weeks and boycott the event entirely.
“If this injustice is allowed to stand, no elected lawmaker from the Southeast will remain in the PDP,” Ugochinyere declared.
He added that the issue could still be resolved before the screening exercise, urging party leaders to avoid actions that would further alienate the Southeast.
“If the Southeast is humiliated at this point, it will provoke resentment across the region and compound the ongoing confusion already troubling the PDP,” he said.
Ugochinyere cautioned that altering the agreed zoning formula could worsen the PDP’s fragile unity at a time when the party is struggling to recover from post-election divisions.
“Any attempt to tamper with the agreed zoning formula will destabilise the party further,” he said.
“This move sends a signal that the PDP no longer respects equity and inclusiveness, principles on which it was built.”
He also reminded party leaders that the Southeast had remained one of the most consistent bases of support for the PDP since its formation, warning that continued marginalisation could drive members out of the party.
Appeal to Makinde and Adeleke for Intervention
The lawmakers appealed to Oyo State Governor Makinde and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene urgently to prevent further crisis within the PDP.
“We are calling on Governor Makinde and Governor Adeleke to intervene and ensure that the Southeast retains the National Woman Leader position,” Ugochinyere said.
“This is a matter of fairness, inclusion, and justice. The party cannot afford to alienate one of its strongest zones ahead of future elections.”
He stressed that giving the Southeast its due share would restore confidence in the PDP’s internal processes and help the party rebuild its dwindling support base across the country.
“We only seek fairness and equity. The Southeast deserves to have what was originally zoned to it. Anything short of that will further weaken the PDP and alienate its loyal members,” Ugochinyere added.
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