PDP zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to South

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of Nigeria, a major decision taken at its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the PDP NEC stated that, having retained the office of the National Chairman in the North, it was imperative that the presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 general election should emerge from the South.

According to the communiqué presented by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, NEC “received and after extensive deliberation approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee which recommended as follows: (a) That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region. (b) That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region. (c) 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 communiqué added that “the regions should immediately micro-zone positions within their region for implementation.”

NEC also ratified and confirmed the appointment of Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as substantive National Chairman of the party, praising his leadership in stabilising the organisation during a turbulent period.

“In recognition of the efforts of the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum, in stabilising the Party, NEC hereby ratifies and confirms the appointment of Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the Party with effect from today, Monday, 25th August, 2025 until the National Convention holding at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital on 15th to 16th November, 2025,” the communiqué read.

The NEC further expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for its 2025 Elective National Convention, scheduled for 15–16 November in Ibadan, Oyo State, acknowledging the roles of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Assembly Caucus, and other party structures in ensuring its success.

On national issues, the PDP NEC condemned what it described as the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) drift towards authoritarianism.

“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,” it said.

The party was particularly alarmed at the conduct of elections in certain states.

“NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the militarization 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,” the communiqué declared.

The PDP NEC warned that such actions were 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.”

Reassuring Nigerians of its commitment to democratic values, the NEC vowed to reposition the party for victory in 2027.

“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.”