PDP zones 2027 presidential ticket to south

Party leaders took the decision during the NEC meeting in
Abuja on Monday.

Presenting a communique issued after the meeting, Debo
Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, said NEC approved recommendations of the
zoning committee after “extensive” deliberation.

He said that the existing zoning arrangement for NWC
positions would remain in place for the national convention in November to
elect a new national working committee (NWC).

“That all PDP national office positions currently in the
northern region of the country remain in the northern region,” he said.

“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 its region for implementation.”

The NEC expressed satisfaction with the level of
preparedness across the party’s organs, chapters, and structures for the 2025
elective national convention, which is scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo
state, on November 15 and 16.

The NEC also received update from the PDP constitution
amendment committee and directed the committee to circulate the draft to
various organs and chapters of the party for further inputs.

‘BYE-ELECTION MILITARISED’

The NEC claimed that the last week’s bye-election was
fraught with vote-buying and intimidation and heavy deployment of security
personnel.

“The NEC condemns the resort by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) 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,” the
communique reads.

“NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the
militarisation of the recent by-elections, especially in Kaduna and Taraba
states as well as Zamfara state, where excessive security agencies were
deployed to conduct 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 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.”

The party said it is committed to democracy and defending
the interests and well-being of all citizens, and working hard to regain power
in 2027.

The NEC fixed October 15 for its next meeting.

The zoning decision puts to rest speculations and agitations
over the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

Some party stakeholders, including Nyesom Wike, minister of
the federal capital territory (FCT), had demanded the zoning of the
presidential ticket to the south.

The party’s decision to throw open the presidential ticket
for the 2023 election, despite calls to zone it to the south, triggered a
crisis that has lingered to this day.