Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a major decision ahead of the 2027 general elections by zoning its presidential ticket to the South.
This means the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2027 will come from the southern part of the country, while the North will retain the position of national chairman. The decision was announced after the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Sunday.
The party also confirmed Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum, who has been acting as chairman, as the substantive national chairman until December 2025.
Why PDP Zoned the Ticket to the South
The PDP said it does not want to repeat what happened in 2023, when it left its presidential ticket open. That move allowed the North to produce both the party chairman and the presidential candidate. Many party members blamed this for the PDP’s defeat at the polls and the internal crises that followed.
This time, the PDP wants balance:
- North → National Chairman
- South → Presidential Candidate
Heated Meetings Before the Decision
The decision followed several tough meetings between Friday and Sunday. At one point, there was a shouting match after PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, reportedly refused to sign the letter inviting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the party’s November national convention in Ibadan.
The party was said to be split between two camps – one loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the other to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Wike himself was absent from the NEC meeting.
Despite the tension, party leaders agreed they must stay united because, according to them, they do not expect the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to “play fair” in 2027.
Governors Dismiss Defection Rumors
There had been fears that some PDP governors – Peter Mbah (Enugu), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) – might defect to the APC. But Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, dismissed those fears and assured members that all communications to INEC about the convention had been signed.
He explained the governors’ absence from the NEC meeting:
- Enugu governor was busy hosting the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference.
- Plateau governor is part of a Federal Government delegation to Brazil.
- Taraba governor had urgent state duties.
Wabara Warns: Unity is Key
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, sent a strong warning to the party. Speaking through former Kaduna governor Ahmed Makarfi, he said PDP cannot win the 2027 presidential election with “rhetoric alone.”
According to him, PDP must:
- Stay united.
- Show sacrifice and inclusivity.
- Forgive old disagreements and welcome members back.
He said the November convention in Ibadan would be a turning point for the party, stressing that Nigerians are suffering from economic hardship and insecurity, and PDP must show it can provide solutions.
PDP Attacks APC Over Elections
The NEC also used the meeting to accuse the APC of manipulating recent bye-elections in states like Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara. The PDP condemned what it called the “militarisation of elections”, saying excessive use of security forces in polls is a threat to democracy.
The party promised to fight back and said it is determined to regain power in 2027.
Damagum Speaks on PDP’s Future
In his address, National Chairman Damagum told members that the party remains strong despite alleged intimidation from the APC. He pointed to a recent bye-election victory where PDP won a seat previously held by the APC.
He described the win as “a foretaste of what will happen in 2027” and stressed that PDP is still the only party capable of restoring hope to Nigerians.
Damagum also promised that PDP would continue to promote internal democracy, inclusivity, and women’s empowerment.
Reactions from Wike’s Camp
Meanwhile, Mr. Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, described the PDP’s decision to zone the presidency to the South as “too late.”
He argued that Wike and the G-5 Governors had warned the party in 2022 that both the national chairman and presidential candidate could not come from the same region. According to him, the PDP’s loss in 2023 proved them right.
“Sadly, they know the truth. Wike simply said, take the chairmanship to the South if you want the presidency, but they said no. Now they have corrected it in 2025, but it may already be too late,” Olayinka said.
What’s Next
The PDP’s national convention will hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, where key decisions and leadership elections will take place.
The next NEC meeting has been scheduled for October 15, 2025.
With zoning settled, all eyes are now on which southern politician will fly the PDP’s flag in the 2027 presidential election.
