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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will hold the suspended zonal congresses in the South West, North West and North Central on April 10.
The date was communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) via a letter signed by party’s national chairman and secretary, Uche Secondus and Umar Tsauri, respectively.
Internal party crisis had stalled the congresses which were initially scheduled for March 6. The development forced the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to postpone them.
Part of the challenge was the leadership tussle between some zonal leaders in the South West where Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, have been at loggerheads.
However, in the letter dated March 31, the party expressed its readiness to hold the remaining congresses, with that of the South West scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Please refer to our earlier letter with ref No.PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.IM/21-015, in which we informed the Commission (INEC) of the postponement of our planned zonal congresses in North West, South West and North Central.
“We now wish to inform the commission of new dates for the North West, South West and North Central zones,” the letter said.
The letter gave the location and dates of the congresses as Ibadan for South West; Kaduna for North West and Makurdi for North Central.
“Please note that all our party’s activities shall be in accordance with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines on COVID-19 as they concern social/physical distancing if people gathering in one place,” the statement added.