No other PDP zonal congress will hold in South-South – Wike dares party’s NWC

• He also acknowledged the importance of the south-south to the PDP, saying the zone is the strongest the party has and called on members to remains united

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike says the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South zonal congress held on Saturday is the only one that will take place in the region.

He said the National Working Committee, NWC, can’t intimidate him, saying the committee dare not hold another Congress.

Members of the PDP, who are loyal to Wike, conducted the South-South PDP Zonal Congress on Saturday in Calabar, Cross River State, despite a court order against the exercise.

A High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, had issued an interim injunction preventing the zonal congress from taking place.

But Wike and those in his camp, including a former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke, participated and voted at the Congress.

However, the party’s NWC said it has nothing to do with the zonal congress, saying PDP is not in any way involved in the “said gathering in Calabar”.

The main opposition party insisted it has not conducted its South-South Zonal Congress.

However, while presenting a goodwill message at the congress, the former Rivers State Governor said there has never been a congress or convention where all delegates participated.

The FCT Minister charged delegates at the Congress to elect officials who will defend and protect the party.

He also acknowledged the importance of the south-south to the PDP, saying the zone is the strongest the party has and called on members to remains united.

He said, “The South-South Zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will always be. There is no part of the constitution that says congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling.

“There has never been a congress where every delegate was present. I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the South-South Zone. After the election today, no other zonal congress will hold.

“This is our job, our terrain, and we are not new to this. Nobody can intimidate me and I don’t need to be a governor. Let us put ourselves together in truth and ensure our party remains united and we can only be united when we are truthful”.