The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while retaining the national chairmanship position in the North, in a move party leaders say is aimed at correcting past mistakes and fostering unity ahead of the next general election.
The decision was reached at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, where the leadership also confirmed Ambassador Iliya Damagum as the substantive national chairman until November 2025. The meeting reviewed the outcome of the 2023 general elections, with members admitting that the open-ticket policy adopted at the time was a strategic error that deepened internal divisions.
Party leaders further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of widespread electoral malpractice in the last polls and cautioned the party to embrace fair play in the interest of democracy.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, emphasized the need for reconciliation and unity within the PDP, warning that lingering divisions could undermine its chances in 2027. “Our strength lies in our unity. We must work as one family if we are serious about reclaiming power,” he said.
However, allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed the zoning decision as belated. They argued that the move only vindicates the position of the G-5 governors, who opposed the 2023 open-ticket arrangement and insisted on power shift to the South.
Political observers note that the zoning resolution, though significant, may not immediately heal the rift within the opposition party. With Wike’s camp continuing to wield influence and internal reconciliation still a challenge, the coming months will test the PDP’s ability to rebuild trust among its members and reposition itself as a credible alternative to the APC.
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