UPDATED: PDP zones 2027 presidential ticket to South 

North, South retain existing NWC positions • Confirms Damagum as substantive chairman • Reaffirms commitment to Ibadan convention • Govs allege plan to subvert convention, warn members • Zoning of ticket to South will pave way for Tinubu’s return — Olawepo-Hashim • Wike vindicated over zoning formula — Aide • APC to PDP: You stand rejected by Nigerians

The battle for the 2027 electoral contest appeared to have taken shape on Monday, following the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cede the presidential ticket of the party to the South.

Agitation over zoning of the party ticket in the 2023 election rocked its ranks, leading to the emergence of rival camps opposed to the party’s presidential standard-bearer in the election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

However, rising from its 102nd NEC in Abuja, the party announced ceding the 2027 presidential ticket to the South. In the same vein, all existing National Working Committee (NWC) positions held by the South are retained by the region. Similarly, all existing NWC positions held by the North are retained by the region, going into the party’s National Elective Convention fixed for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on November 15.

The PDP officially confirmed Ambassador Umar Damagum as its substantive national chairman ahead of the Ibadan convention, having held the position in acting capacity since 2023.

The decisions were reached at the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was held on Monday at its Wadada Plaza PDP national secretariat, in Abuja. All the decisions marked a turning point in the trajectories of the former ruling party as it has been rattled by protracted supremacy battles between two tendencies before and after losing the 2023 presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The resolutions also signal a fresh breath into the seriously asphyxiated party due to the bitter leadership struggle as loyalists of the two tendencies attended the NEC meeting.

However, the ceding of the presidency to the South may still be a source of concern in the party as a member from the North-Central, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, declared his intention to join the race. Sources in the camp of Olawepo-Hashim are arguing that zoning is not constitutional, as it is neither reflected in the PDP’s rules nor the Nigerian Constitution.

Hundreds of his supporters thronged the venue of the NEC meeting on Monday, singing his praises and waving banners extolling his qualities. The supporters and those of the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, were seen trying to outdo one another in the battle of marketing their candidates.

The National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, read the communique of the meeting to reporters. He stated:

“NEC acknowledged with satisfaction the efforts and commitment of PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Assembly Caucus and other relevant bodies of the Party towards the success of the forthcoming 2025 National Convention at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.

“NEC received and after extensive deliberation approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee which recommended as follows:

• That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region.

• That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region.

• That having retained the position of the National Chairman in the Northern Region of the country, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the Southern Region.”

The two regions were directed to immediately micro-zone the positions in the respective regions.

Interestingly, the NEC meeting was well-attended by many key stakeholders, including some leaders who, on Thursday last week, opposed the Lagos summit convened in Ikeja to deliberate on zoning and other pressing party matters.

Kingsley Chinda, ex-Gov Ugwuanyi, Phillips Aduda in attendance

Among the leaders who had opposed the meeting but attended the NEC meeting was the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Kingsley Chinda. The Rivers State lawmaker addressed the session. Also in attendance were known associates of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, like former governor of Enugu State, Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Philip Aduda, among others.

The PDP upbraided the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly resorting to state capture “through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians as witnessed in APC’s muzzling of the recent bye-elections in parts of the country.”

Reviewing the August 16 poll specifically, the party said:

“NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the militarisation of the recent bye-elections especially in Kaduna and Taraba states, as well as Zamfara State, where excessive security agencies were deployed in the conduct of run-off election in only five Polling Units in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency.

“NEC declares that this action by the APC is a confirmation of APC’s desire to turn our country into a totalitarian One-Party State which is a clear and present danger to democracy and the corporate existence of our country.”

It vowed to reposition itself with the sole purpose of retaking power from the APC in 2027.

Wabara speaks on way forward

Earlier at the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting preceding the NEC meeting, the chairman of the organ, Senator Adolphus Wabara, harped on unity and sacrifice. He said rhetoric alone would not win the 2027 polls for the party so long as the members refused to unite and work together for the common good of all.

Wabara, who was represented by the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, stated:

“If we are to succeed in 2027 we must embrace three truths:

First on the question of unity and progress. Unity is not a mere slogan. Rather, it is the lifeblood of any political organisation. Without unity, progress is stunted. Without unity, victory is elusive. Our strength has always been drawn from our diversity, our ability to disagree without division and to reconcile in the interest of the greater good. As elders, leaders and members of the party, we must once again rise to that standard.

Secondly, the spirit of sacrifice: We must be honest with ourselves. Reclaiming victory in 2027 will demand more than rhetoric. It will demand sacrifice in exchange for the collective interest of the party and more importantly the Nigerian people. Our country is bleeding: The masses are suffering. They look unto the PDP to bring succour, to restore hope and to offer leadership that heals. This burden of expectation should inspire us to give our best and even more for the sake of our nation.

Third, reconciliation and inclusion: We know that over time, some of our members, due to one grievance or another, have strayed away, in self-imposed exile. Today, as elders of the party, we must extend a hand of reconciliation. This does not mean abandoning our principles. Rather, it means applying wisdom and flexibility to how we enforce our rules. If necessary, we must relax or regulate certain party laws to accommodate genuine interests and reintegrate those who truly desire to return.”

Damagum harps on consolidation

Damagum, on his part, spoke on the need for members not to allow the zoning of party offices to destabilise the PDP. He said:

“Furthermore, and most importantly, we must consolidate our ranks in the light of the recent factional issues that emerged. While these distractions do not weaken our party’s image to achieve the intended effect, they remind us of the need for vigilance, dialogue and unity.

We cannot afford internal cracks at such a critical time in the life of our nation. Equally, the sensitive issue of the national zoning committee must be handled with seriousness and inclusivity. Zoning has always been one of the pillars of balance, stability and fairness within our party, the decisions we take here today will significantly shape the confidence Nigerians place in our internal democratic processes.”

Bala Mohammed calls for vigilance against Fifth Columnists

The chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, pledged the unity of the governors and support for the upcoming convention.

Mohammed noted: “We are working very hard, to ensure that we make our party the darling of Nigerians, where we have shown reticence, capacity and, of course, unity between us.”

However, he alleged that some members were working with some security personnel to frustrate the convention, advising party members to be on the alert.

“I warn that we have had some remote information that some of our party leaders at the state level may be penetrated by security agencies so that they can cause disaffection. So, please, we must remain united,” he added.

At least six PDP governors attended the meeting. Aside from Mohammed, those of Osun (Ademola Adeleke), Bayelsa (Diri Douye), Oyo (Seyi Makinde), Adamawa (Ahmadu Fintiri) and Zamfara State (Dauda Lawal) were present.

Wike vindicated over zoning of presidency to South, chairman to North — Aide

The decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) to zone the presidency to the South, and retain the National Chairman of the party in the North has been described as another clear vindication of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the G-5’s position in 2022.

The Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who reacted to the zoning, asked:

“Now that the party has realised its mistake of not listening to Wike and the G-5 in 2022, and have chosen to do what they said three years after, have they not been vindicated now?

Recall that the FCT Minister and the G-5 had insisted that the presidential candidate of the PDP and its National Chairman must not remain in the same zone, insisting that since Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, from the North, had emerged as the presidential candidate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, also from the North, must resign to pave the way for a National Chairman from the South. Ayu, however, insisted on not resigning, with Atiku and his group backing him. Aftermath of this was the electoral misfortune the party suffered in 2023, followed by instability after the elections.

But today, the NEC resolved that since the National Chairman of the party is zoned to the North, the PDP 2027 Presidential ticket be zoned to the South. Has PDP not come back to eat its own vomit? Sadly, they know the truth. Wike simply said, take the chairmanship to the South if you want to gain the presidency, but they said no, they must take the two, and the PDP lost!

They have realised the mistake they made in 2022 and are correcting it in 2025. But is it not too late already, bearing in mind that the only way the zoning can be justified is for the South to conclude its eight years, while the presidency returns to the North in 2031?”

Meanwhile, Olawepo-Hashim has kicked against the zoning of the ticket to the South, saying it will ease the reelection of President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels TV, the former national publicity secretary of the party submitted that it is a big error on the part of the party to take such decision.

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