In a significant political development, the National Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially appointed the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to serve on the party’s 2025 National Convention Organising Committee. This decision is particularly notable given that Governor Fubara remains under an active six-month suspension order. This suspension was originally imposed by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, through a declaration of emergency rule, and it is not set to expire until September 17, 2025.

The announcement, made by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Monday, brings into effect a resolution previously agreed upon during the party’s last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The primary convention itself is scheduled to take place in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, from November 15th to 16th, 2025.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has been designated as the chairman of the extensive 1,100-member committee. He will be assisted by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was named deputy chairman. The position of committee secretary has been assigned to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah. The committee’s central mandate is to oversee and coordinate all preparatory activities and events leading up to the pivotal national convention.

The composition of the committee features a broad spectrum of the party’s most influential figures, underscoring its importance. Its membership roster includes former Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP acting national chairman Umar Damagum, deputy national chairman Taofeek Arapaja, and Board of Trustees chairman Adolphus Wabara. Several sitting governors, such as Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), and Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), are also members, alongside former high-ranking officials like ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Minister Tanimu Turaki.

This move occurs alongside other strategic party preparations. Just last week, the PDP inaugurated a separate 44-member Zoning Committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri—who is also on the organising committee—with Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara as his deputy. This zoning committee is tasked with a critical function: determining the geopolitical zones for all elective positions on the party’s next National Working Committee (NWC). Most consequentially, it will decide whether the North or the South produces the next national chairman. The party has reaffirmed its principle of alternating these top positions; thus, if the chairmanship is zoned to the North, the presidential candidacy will be zoned to the South, and vice versa, setting the stage for the party’s strategy ahead of the next general elections.