The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) denies any South-South regional conference.
Naija News Reports say this is known in a statement by the PDP National Propaganda Secretary on Saturday help.
Dan Orbih, the party’s South-South vice-chairman, was with the federal capital territorial minister Nyesom Wike; former Cross River governor, Donald Duke, and others reportedly in Cross River State A regional conference was held.
A PDP spokesperson responded, describing the meeting as a social gathering.
He said the PDP has not yet conducted a Southern Regional Conference, and this is not any way involved in the aforementioned gatherings held in Calabar.
His statement reads:To avoid doubt, the NWC exercised its powers in accordance with Article 31(2)(2)(2)(2)(b) of the Constitution at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025. The PDP (revised in 2017) has postponed the behavioral zone for the Southern Regional Conference starting from the scheduled date on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
“For clarity, although Article 29(2)(b) of the PDP Constitution enables the NWC to authorize “to implement and approve the National Executive Committee on behalf of the National Executive Committee in an emergency”, Article 31(2). (c) Clearly stipulate , the National Executive Committee shall “oversee and direct the work of the Party and all its organs, including national, regional, state and local government agencies”.
“In the same vein, Article 31(2)(j) gives the power of the State Executive Committee”…to formulate party election regulations, conduct elections for all party offices at all levels, and regulate procedures to select candidate elections for candidates Office procedures”.
“So, the PDP noted that it has not conducted a Southern Regional Conference and has not communicated the exercise date.
“The PDP calls on all party members in the southern region, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), security agencies and the media to ignore any gatherings or results of any such gatherings in Calabar, allegedly a regional congress of the southern region PDP.
“Our political parties will, in due course, communicate a new date on the Southern Regional Conference through their official channels.
“The NWC praised the PDP South-South Governor, other leaders, critical stakeholders, and members of the party for their loyalty and unwaveringness to the unity, stability and growth of the South-South and National Party.”