By Amofokhai Williams
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made a pivotal decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of the country.
The party said the move is aimed at fostering regional balance and strengthening its electoral strategy ahead of the next general election.
The announcement came during the 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday, as outlined in a communique issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.
The NEC, after extensive deliberations, approved the recommendations of the National Convention Zoning Committee, which proposed maintaining the current regional distribution of PDP national office positions.
The NEC affirmed that all positions currently held in the Northern region, including the National Chairman, would remain in the North, while those in the Southern region would stay in the South.
Crucially, the committee recommended zoning the party’s presidential candidacy for the 2027 general election to the Southern region, a decision seen as a deliberate effort to promote inclusivity and address long-standing calls for equitable power rotation.
The party said the zoning strategy aligned with Nigeria’s unwritten political tradition of alternating power between the North and South to ensure national cohesion.
By zoning the presidential ticket to the South, the PDP aims to appeal to voters in the region, where it has historically enjoyed significant support, while countering the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which currently holds the presidency under President Bola Tinubu, a Southerner.
The NEC expressed confidence in the party’s preparations for its Elective National Convention, scheduled for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The communique highlighted the collaborative efforts of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Assembly Caucus in ensuring the convention’s success.
In a significant leadership move, the NEC confirmed Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman, effective immediately, until the November 2025 convention.
Damagum, who had been acting in the role, was commended for stabilizing the party during a period of internal challenges.
Additionally, the NEC reviewed updates from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee, directing it to circulate a draft of proposed amendments to party organs and chapters for further input.
The communique also took a strong stance against the APC, accusing the ruling party of undermining democracy through “state capture” tactics, including intimidation, manipulation, and excessive militarization during recent bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States.
The PDP specifically criticized the deployment of heavy security forces for a run-off election in just five polling units in Zamfara’s Kaura Namoda South State Constituency, describing it as evidence of the APC’s intent to establish a “totalitarian one-party state.”
The party warned that such actions pose a “clear and present danger” to Nigeria’s democracy and national unity.
Reaffirming its role as a defender of democracy, the PDP pledged to prioritize the interests and well-being of Nigerians while repositioning itself to reclaim power in 2027.
