The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections will be zoned to the South.
This decision was disclosed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, while reading the communique issued at the end of the NEC’s 102nd meeting held on Monday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
“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 communique reads.
This decision effectively rules out aspirants from the North, such as Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who was widely speculated as a possible contender.
The zoning of the presidential ticket to the South revives the PDP’s tradition of rotating the presidency between the North and South, a policy that many within the party believe is critical for maintaining national balance and inclusiveness.
The last time the PDP produced a president from the South was during the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan, who served until 2015.
Mr Jonathan assumed office after the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua in May 2010, before winning the 2011 election and later losing his re-election bid in 2015 to the late President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who hails from Adamawa State in the northern region, was the PDP presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023.
There are speculations party is wooing Mr Jonathan to be its flagbearer in the 2027 election. However, the former president has maintained silence on the matter.
Another name gaining attention is that of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, whose posters have been spotted across different parts of the country, though he too has not openly declared his interest.
National office positions
The NEC also resolved to maintain the current distribution of national party offices across regions.
The communique added “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.”
Allegations of militarisation of by-election
In the communique, the NEC also condemned the conduct of last Saturday’s by-elections, particularly in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States.
The committee accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.
“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.
“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.”
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Fear of one-party state
The NEC claimed that the actions of the APC-led government is a confirmation of an attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
“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.
“NEC reassures Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to democracy and the defense of the interest and wellbeing of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our party to regain power in 2027 “ the communique said.