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As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its rescheduled North Central Zonal Congress on Saturday, May 24, frontline aspirant for the position of National Vice Chairman (North Central), Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya, has raised the alarm over what he describes as a “clear and present danger” to the soul of the party in the region.

Speaking during a press conference in Jos, Ajiya issued a stern warning against “external political manipulation” and attempts to hijack the party structure through “imposition, inducement, and betrayal.”

“We are once again at a defining moment—not just for the North Central zone but for the entire PDP family,” Ajiya declared. “There is a deliberate plot to hijack the PDP structure in the North Central through the backdoor—using the instrumentality of imposition, external influence, and inducements.”

Ajiya, a founding PDP member and grassroots mobilizer, directly accused Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and former Senator Philip Aduda of spearheading efforts to install a preferred candidate in order to weaken the PDP’s electoral chances in the 2027 general elections.

“It is no longer in doubt that Chief Nyesom Wike, working through Senator Philip Aduda, is actively promoting a candidate—not to strengthen the PDP, but to deliver our zone to the ruling APC as part of a wider political strategy for 2027,” he alleged.

“Let me be clear: This is not democracy; it is subversion.”

Ajiya further warned that the PDP in North Central must not be allowed to fall into the hands of political operatives “acting as proxies for the APC,” describing the scheme as a betrayal of the party’s founding values and legacy.

“The North Central zone is not a pawn in a political chess game—it is the birthplace of the PDP, home of our first national chairman, the great Chief Solomon Lar of blessed memory,” he said. “Our loyalty cannot be bought. Our structures cannot be handed over on a platter to a ruling party that sees no value in genuine opposition.”

The aspirant condemned alleged attempts to impose Mr. Abdulraham, reportedly fronted by Aduda and supported by Wike, describing it as a move to “collapse our structures into the APC.”

“We have seen the warning signs—defections in the FCT, closed-door meetings, strategic endorsements, and financial inducements to delegates,” Ajiya warned. “All point to an agenda that does not serve the interest of our party or the Nigerian people.”

Emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the PDP since 1999, Ajiya made a passionate case for his candidacy, citing his unbroken record of loyalty and grassroots leadership.

“I have never jumped ship. I have never betrayed our cause,” he said. “This is why I am offering myself to serve—to help rebuild, reunite, and reposition our party for victory, not just in 2027, but beyond.”

In a strong appeal to delegates from the North Central states—Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, and the FCT—Ajiya urged them to reject any form of imposition and vote for principles over politics.

“This election is not about me—it is about whether we will have a PDP that truly belongs to its members or one that becomes an extension of the ruling party,” he stated. “Vote your conscience, vote for loyalty, vote for integrity, and vote for the future.”

Ajiya also used the platform to call on the National Working Committee (NWC) and the national leadership of the PDP to safeguard the credibility of the upcoming congress.

“The stakes are too high to stay silent. The time to act is now,” he emphasized. “This is the time to show Nigerians that the PDP is still the party of justice, fairness, and internal democracy.”

Closing with a resolute call to action, Ajiya affirmed his commitment to the party’s survival and the defense of its founding ideals.

“The PDP is worth fighting for. Our legacy, our structures, our future—they must not be handed over to the very forces we were formed to oppose,” he declared. “With PDP, we serve the people. With PDP, we secure the future. With PDP, we win!”

As the May 24 congress approaches, the contest for the PDP’s North Central leadership promises to be both pivotal and symbolic, not only for the region but for the national trajectory of Nigeria’s largest opposition party.