The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and the party's national chairman, Umar Damagum, as well as other leaders of the leading opposition, have stood their ground concerning its forthcoming national election convention, set to in Ibadan, Oyo state, from November 15 to 16.

The PDP leaders insisted that the convention would hold despite the fresh demands of the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The Punch reported that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and the chairman of the PDP governors' forum responded to Wike's camp demands and threatened that disciplinary action would be taken against those undermining the interest of the party. He insisted that the PDP would not bow to impunity and arrogance or what is referred to as a "faction of fools."

At the same time, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, who was represented by the secretary, Ahmed Makarfi and other party leaders, added that the northern and southern leaders have the right to microzone the positions in the party. He then stressed that every member has the right to contest.

Wike and his allies have been at loggerheads with the National Working Committee (NWC) and the PDP governors over the convention. They noted that these conditions must be met for the peaceful conduct of the convention.

While the PDP governors and other leaders are pushing for the convention to hold, Wike and his allies have continued to stall the chances of the exercise being continued, citing the leadership disputes surrounding the South-East and South-South zones of the party.

On Monday, September 1, the PDP members loyal to the FCT Minister under the umbrella of the Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP, warned that the November planned convention could be declared "invalid" if their demands are not met.

Following their meeting, the former governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom, read out their demands in a communique. Ortom maintained that the demands are “collective commitment to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law”. He stressed that they are “values upon which the PDP was founded and upon which its survival depends.”