The Peoples Democratic Party’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, paving the way for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other southerners to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
The party’s NEC also upheld the current National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, and confirmed Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman.
Meanwhile, loyalists of the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, including Obidient Movement National coordinator Tanko Yunusa, said the former Anambra governor needs more time to reflect before deciding on his next political move.
But reacting to the zoning arrangement, the All Progressives Congress Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the PDP is destined for defeat in 2027, no matter who it fields as a presidential candidate or the region he represents.
Zoning has long shaped the political fortunes of the PDP.
Their revolt contributed to the PDP’s defeat by the All Progressives Congress.
A repeat incident occurred in 2023, when five governors, led by then Rivers State Governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside other leaders, opposed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.
Although the zoning committee, chaired by then Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had thrown the ticket open, they argued that after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years, the South deserved consideration.
After Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal as National Chairman in 2023 by a court ruling, the North Central leaders demanded to fill the position, but their request was denied.
This fuelled the defection of key figures like former Senate President David Mark, Senator Dino Melaye, and ex-Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam to the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress.
From 2015 to date, disputes over the zoning of the presidential ticket or NWC positions have repeatedly driven the PDP into crisis.
On Monday, the PDP’s 44-member zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, presented its report to the 102nd NEC.
Addressing journalists after the NEC meeting in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed that the decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Committee chaired by Governor Diri.
