The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of the country in what it described as a strategic move to strengthen national unity and balance within the party.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday in Abuja.
According to the communique, NEC adopted the recommendations of the National Convention Zoning Committee which resolved that with the office of the National Chairman retained in the North, the presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections should come from the South.
The party leadership said the decision underscored PDP’s commitment to equity, justice and inclusiveness as guiding principles for the party’s internal democracy and national cohesion.
“Having retained the position of the National Chairman in the Northern Region, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the Southern Region,” the communique stated.
NEC further directed regions to immediately micro-zone offices within their domains for implementation ahead of the 2025 elective national convention scheduled for Nov. 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The meeting also ratified the appointment of Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum as substantive National Chairman of the PDP until the Ibadan convention.
NEC commended the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees (BoT), National Working Committee (NWC), and other organs for their role in preparing the party for the upcoming convention.
The party, however, condemned what it called the “militarisation and state capture” tactics employed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during recent bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara States, describing it as a threat to democracy.
The communique reassured Nigerians of PDP’s resolve to defend democracy and reposition itself as the alternative political platform to reclaim power in 2027.
The NEC adjourned its next meeting to Oct. 15, 2025.
