…zonal congress to hold as scheduled

By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South has insisted that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) lacks the authority to postpone the zonal congress scheduled for Saturday, 22nd February 2025.

In a statement issued on Friday, the South-South Zonal Organising Secretary, Arch. Ekom Akonjom, dismissed claims that the congress had been postponed, describing them as inconsistent with the party’s constitution.

“We have noted a statement from our Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, claiming the South-South Zonal Congress in Calabar, Cross River State, on February 22, 2025, has been postponed. While it is his duty to convey party information, it must align with our Party’s Constitution.

“To clarify, the South-South Zonal Congress, which was approved by the zonal executive committee, will take place as scheduled. We urge the public and our delegates to ignore the statement from the National Publicity Secretary. The National Working Committee does not possess the authority to summon zonal Congresses, as specified in Article 27 (2) (c) of the Party’s Constitution.

“Furthermore, there has been no convening of the National Working Committee to discuss postponing the South-South Zonal Congress. The National Vice Chairman for the South-South, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, is a member of the NWC, and he has been unaware of the convening of any such meeting. This raises concerns about the motives behind the false claims regarding the postponement of a Congress that the Publicity Secretary cannot Constitutionally summon.

“We wish our delegates safe travels to Calabar, as the zonal Congress is set to go ahead as planned.”

The statement reaffirms the South-South PDP’s commitment to proceeding with the congress as originally scheduled.