Nigeria’s opposition’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region of Nigeria, in a move that could bolster the party unity and regional representation ahead of the 2027 general elections in the country.
The decision was reached at the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, amid wider efforts to reposition the opposition on the national stage.
In addition, the NEC confirmed Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman, a post he has held in an acting capacity since March 2023 following a Benue State High Court order that sacked former chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, explained that: “The NEC approved recommendations of the zoning committee after extensive deliberation.
“Having retained the national chairmanship in the North, the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 general election is hereby zoned to the southern region.”
Ologunagba added that all other national offices remain in their current zones, with micro-zoning to follow for smooth implementation.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, who chaired the zoning committee, stressed that the decision reflected constitutional provisions and the PDP’s long-standing principle of power rotation. “This was not taken in isolation but after wide consultations across party stakeholders,” he said.
In his remarks, Damagum thanked party leaders for the confidence reposed in him.
“This gesture is not just for me, but for all of us, because I owe it to those who have been part of this journey. We came in at a very difficult time, but to the glory of God, we are still united as one party,” Damagun noted.
Party Stalwart Condemns PDP’s Zoning
Meanwhile, a former presidential aspirant of the PDP, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has condemned the party’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, describing the move as “a big error” and “unprecedented” in the PDP’s history.
According to him, while the party allows caucuses to influence delegates and primary outcomes, it had never previously barred aspirants from any region of the country from contesting its presidential ticket.
“The PDP has never zoned the presidency before,” he said while speaking on Channels TV Monday, adding that “The PDP has always been about inclusivity and competition.”
Olawepo-Hashim argued that “The constitution does not allow you to discriminate against a party member in an elective contest because of where they come from. Even if I am not running, any member of the PDP can go to court to say they were excluded, and the court could nullify the party’s candidate.
“This zoning betrays that legacy and could cost the party dearly, just as exclusionary politics did in 2015.”
Background of PDP’s National Crisis
The PDP had superintended over Nigeria’s seat of power for 16 years before it was swept off in 2015 by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Following the loss, the party became Nigeria’s main opposition party, but has grappled with internal crises since its defeat in the 2023 general elections, where its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar lost to Bola Tinubu of the APC.
The loss deepened rifts between northern and southern blocs, especially after calls for power to shift south were ignored ahead of 2023. The emergence of the G-5 governors, led by former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the FCT, further exposed divisions, with several party stalwarts working at cross-purposes during the polls. Subsequent legal battles over leadership, including Ayu’s ouster, left the PDP struggling to project cohesion.
Monday’s NEC resolution signals a deliberate attempt to heal wounds. With zoning of 2027 presidential ticket clarified and Damagum’s leadership affirmed, the PDP is now preparing for its national convention in Ibadan on 15–16 November 2025, where aspirants from the South are expected to formally declare their ambitions as the opposition schemes to take power in 2027.
