The Peoples Democratic Party’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, paving the way for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other southerners to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
The party’s NEC also upheld the current National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, and confirmed Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman.
Meanwhile, loyalists of the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, including Obidient Movement National coordinator Tanko Yunusa, said the former Anambra governor needs more time to reflect before deciding on his next political move.
But reacting to the zoning arrangement, the All Progressives Congress Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the PDP is destined for defeat in 2027, no matter who it fields as a presidential candidate or the region he represents..
In 2015, northern members opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting the presidential ticket should return to their region.
Their revolt contributed to the PDP’s defeat by the All Progressives Congress.
A repeat incident occurred in 2023, when five governors, led by then Rivers State Governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside other leaders, opposed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.
Although the zoning committee, chaired by then Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had thrown the ticket open, they argued that after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years, the South deserved consideration.
After Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal as National Chairman in 2023 by a court ruling, the North Central leaders demanded to fill the position, but their request was denied.
This fuelled the defection of key figures like former Senate President David Mark, Senator Dino Melaye, and ex-Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam to the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress.
From 2015 to date, disputes over the zoning of the presidential ticket or NWC positions have repeatedly driven the PDP into crisis.
On Monday, the PDP’s 44-member zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, presented its report to the 102nd NEC.
Addressing journalists after the NEC meeting in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed that the decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Commit
tee chaired by Governor Diri.
Ologunagba added that the NEC also expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of the PDP’s various organs, chapters and structures for the 2025 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, on November 15 to 16, 2025.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, while reading the 102nd NEC communiqué, said the meeting commended the efforts of PDP governors, Board of Trustees, NWC, the National Assembly Caucus, and other party organs toward the success of the 2025 National Convention.
The communique read in part, “NEC received and, after extensive deliberation, approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee, which recommended 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.
“That the regions should immediately micro-zone positions within their region for implementation. NEC also received an update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee and directed the Committee to circulate the Draft Constitution Amendment to various organs and chapters of the Party for further inputs.”
Ologunagba said NEC confirmed Umar Damagum as substantive National Chairman, effective Monday, August 25, 2025, in recognition of his role in stabilising the party, pending the National Convention.
He added, “NEC condemns the resort by the APC to state capture through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians as witnessed in the APC’s muzzling of the recent bye-elections in parts of the country.
“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 the 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 the 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.
“NEC reassures Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to Democracy and the defence of the interests and well-being of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our party to regain power in PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket from the South.
He stated, “Nigerians are looking up to the PDP not only as the strongest opposition party but as the only credible alternative, capable of restoring hope, equity, and justice to the Nigerian people.
“The confidence reposed in us is a reminder of the weight of responsibility we carry as a party and of the need to remain united and disciplined as we march towards the future.
“From one convention to the next, the PDP has consistently shown that internal democracy, inclusivity, and respect for collective decision-making remain our guiding principles.
“This NEC, therefore, stands at a defining moment as we prepare for the next National Convention, where the leadership that will steer our party into the 2027 elections will emerge.
“Please, be assured that I believe every member of the current National Working Committee remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this party faithfully these past years as we approach our fourth anniversary.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said party leaders were making strong efforts to win back the trust of Nigerians.
The governor noted, “We are really navigating the temptations and also some of the challenges that most of you are aware of, the challenges even within the National Working Committee, so that we can cautiously and cleverly navigate to convention.
“All the remaining issues of the various congresses have been resolved by the Working Committee with the help of the governors and other elders.
“Today, I would say that all the communication to INEC has been signed by our National Working Committee and that we don’t have any determining issue. So, we are navigating and we are working very well, and of course, we will do our best to ensure that this party remains united.”
The PDP BoT chairman, Adolphus Wabara, said the hopes of millions of Nigerians rest on the party’s ability to rebuild, reconcile, and position itself ahead of 2027.
Represented by the BoT secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Wabara stressed that for the PDP to succeed in 2027, the members must embrace three key principles: unity and progress, sacrifice, and reconciliation with inclusion.
He added, “Once again, the hopes of millions of sovereign Nigerians are tied to our collective capacity to build to reconcile and to position this party ahead of 2027.
“However, 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.
With the new zoning arrangement, the path now appears clearer for Makinde, Obi, and other southerners interested in the ticket.
In his earlier remarks, Damagum noted that since the last PDP NEC meeting, the party had remained resilient and focused despite the count
ry’s daunting challenges.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, paving the way for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other southerners to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
The party’s NEC also upheld the current National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, and confirmed Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman.
Meanwhile, loyalists of the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, including Obidient Movement National coordinator Tanko Yunusa, said the former Anambra governor needs more time to reflect before deciding on his next political move.
But reacting to the zoning arrangement, the All Progressives Congress Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the PDP is destined for defeat in 2027, no matter who it fields as a presidential candidate or the region he represents
Zoning has long shaped the political fortunes of the PDP.
In 2015, northern members opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting the presidential ticket should return to their region.
Their revolt contributed to the PDP’s defeat by the All Progressives Congress.
A repeat incident occurred in 2023, when five governors, led by then Rivers State Governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside other leaders, opposed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.
Although the zoning committee, chaired by then Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had thrown the ticket open, they argued that after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years, the South deserved consideration.
After Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal as National Chairman in 2023 by a court ruling, the North Central leaders demanded to fill the position, but their request was denied.
This fuelled the defection of key figures like former Senate President David Mark, Senator Dino Melaye, and ex-Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam to the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress.
From 2015 to date, disputes over the zoning of the presidential ticket or NWC positions have repeatedly driven the PDP into crisis.
On Monday, the PDP’s 44-member zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, presented its report to the 102nd NEC.
Addressing journalists after the NEC meeting in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed that the decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Committee chaired by Governor Diri.
Ologunagba added that the NEC also expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of the PDP’s various organs, chapters and structures for the 2025 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, on November 15 to 16, 2025.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, while reading the 102nd NEC communiqué, said the meeting commended the efforts of PDP governors, Board of Trustees, NWC, the National Assembly Caucus, and other party organs toward the success of the 2025 National Convention.
The communique read in part, “NEC received and, after extensive deliberation, approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee, which recommended 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.
“That the regions should immediately micro-zone positions within their region for implementation. NEC also received an update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee and directed the Committee to circulate the Draft Constitution Amendment to various organs and chapters of the Party for further inputs.”
Ologunagba said NEC confirmed Umar Damagum as substantive National Chairman, effective Monday, August 25, 2025, in recognition of his role in stabilising the party, pending the National Convention.
He added, “NEC condemns the resort by the APC to state capture through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians as witnessed in the APC’s muzzling of the recent bye-elections in parts of the country.
“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 the 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 the 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.
“NEC reassures Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to Democracy and the defence of the interests and well-being of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our party to regain power in 2027.”
Although not officially declared, The PUNCH had earlier reported that Governor Makinde was among those likely to contest the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket from the South.
With the new zoning arrangement, the path now appears clearer for Makinde, Obi, and other southerners interested in the ticket.
In his earlier remarks, Damagum noted that since the last PDP NEC meeting, the party had remained resilient and focused despite the country’s daunting challenges.
He stated, “Nigerians are looking up to the PDP not only as the strongest opposition party but as the only credible alternative, capable of restoring hope, equity, and justice to the Nigerian people.
“The confidence reposed in us is a reminder of the weight of responsibility we carry as a party and of the need to remain united and disciplined as we march towards the future.
“From one convention to the next, the PDP has consistently shown that internal democracy, inclusivity, and respect for collective decision-making remain our guiding principles.
“This NEC, therefore, stands at a defining moment as we prepare for the next National Convention, where the leadership that will steer our party into the 2027 elections will emerge.
“Please, be assured that I believe every member of the current National Working Committee remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this party faithfully these past years as we approach our fourth anniversary.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said party leaders were making strong efforts to win back the trust of Nigerians.
The governor noted, “We are really navigating the temptations and also some of the challenges that most of you are aware of, the challenges even within the National Working Committee, so that we can cautiously and cleverly navigate to convention.
“All the remaining issues of the various congresses have been resolved by the Working Committee with the help of the governors and other elders.
“Today, I would say that all the communication to INEC has been signed by our National Working Committee and that we don’t have any determining issue. So, we are navigating and we are working very well, and of course, we will do our best to ensure that this party remains united.”
The PDP BoT chairman, Adolphus Wabara, said the hopes of millions of Nigerians rest on the party’s ability to rebuild, reconcile, and position itself ahead of 2027.
Represented by the BoT secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Wabara stressed that for the PDP to succeed in 2027, the members must embrace three key principles: unity and progress, sacrifice, and reconciliation with inclusion.
He added, “Once again, the hopes of millions of sovereign Nigerians are tied to our collective capacity to build to reconcile and to position this party ahead of 2027.
“However, 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.
Related News
Air Peace to begin Lagos–São Paulo flights after Tinubu’s Brazil visit
Nigeria, Brazil sign deal on direct flights, others
Military retirees demand pay raise, national honours
“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.”
He lamented that the nation is in distress and citizens are suffering, stressing that Nigerians look to the PDP to provide relief, restore hope, and deliver healing leadership.
“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 the new reconciliation. This does not mean abandoning our principles.”
Reacting to the PDP NEC resolutions, Wike said he was vindicated by the decision to zone the presidency to the South and the chairmanship to the North.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike noted that the PDP had acknowledged the mistake made in 2022 and was now correcting it in 2025.
The statement read in part, “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. The 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, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, would need time to decide to return to the PDP fold or not in pursuant of his presidential ambition in 2027, the National Coordinator, Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa, said.
Obi has held several meetings in recent times with top opposition figures, including Atiku and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
Posts
