Wike’s group backs Anyanwu as PDP secretary, calls for presidential ticket zoning to south

Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have reaffirmed Samuel Anyawu as the substantive National Secretary of the party.

The PDP leaders also asked the party to zone its presidential ticket to the south ahead of the 2027 general election.

They made this known via a communique issued after a closed-door meeting to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis affecting the party in Abuja on Monday, June 9, 2025.

Wike, who read the communique, said Anyawu’s reaffirmation followed the resolutions of the stakeholders, in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court.

Wike stated that the meeting was organised to review the state of affairs of the PDP and the need to reinforce internal democracy, equity, and justice within the ranks of the party.

He said the stakeholders resolved that the seemingly intractable crisis in the PDP was as a result of the inexplicable refusal of a few to adhere to the party’s constitution.

The minister particularly referred to Section 36(1) (a) (b) and (c); Sections 47(3)(5) and 48(1)(i) and the definitive Supreme Court judgement regarding the position of the office of the national secretary of the PDP.

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“We, therefore, demand that the acting National Chairman and the National Secretary jointly issue a notice to INEC with an attached agenda for the NEC meeting of the party, being the only pathway to abide by extant laws,” Wike said.

Wike also called on PDP members to resist all manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the party and support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Bukola Saraki.

The minister further stated the stakeholders resolved that the party must make an unequivocal pronouncement, zoning its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections.

“This is in the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution, after the unbroken years of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the north,” Wike said.

Some of the stakeholders at the meeting included former Governors Ifeanyi Uguanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Also at the meeting were Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda.

Former federal and state lawmakers and some zonal and state party executives, among others, equally attended the meeting.

The Star