…As NEC decision aligns with Wike’s 2022 G-5 recommendations
…Ex-Presidential candidate warns of party disunity, constitutional risks
…Nigerians have already rejected PDP — APC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally zoned its presidential ticket for the 2027 elections to the South while retaining the national chairmanship in the North, a development that has set the stage for the next electoral contest and is likely to reshape the internal dynamics of the party.
The announcement came on Monday following a closed-door meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at Wadata Plaza, Abuja. During the session, Ambassador Umar Damagum was sworn in as the substantive National Chairman of the party. Party sources described this as a stabilising move following months of speculation and internal tension over leadership continuity, after the previous acting arrangements had fuelled uncertainty about the party’s hierarchy.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, provided details of the NEC decisions in a statement summarising the deliberations. He explained that the NEC had received and, after extensive discussions, approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee.
He said, “All PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region remain in the North, all those in the South remain in the South. Having retained the position of National Chairman in the North, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the South. The Regions should immediately micro-zone positions within their Region for implementation.”
The zoning decision is widely interpreted as a vindication of the position taken three years ago by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the G-5 governors. In 2022, they had warned that concentrating both the presidential candidacy and the national chairmanship in the North could destabilise the party and weaken its appeal nationally. Wike’s office, through Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the NEC decision confirms that the party has now aligned with the guidance that had been previously offered by the minister and his colleagues.
The statement from Wike’s office reads partly: “The FCT Minister and the G-5 had insisted that the presidential candidate of the PDP and its National Chairman must not remain in the same zone. The aftermath of ignoring this advice was the electoral misfortune the party suffered in 2023, followed by instability after the elections.”
The NEC also commended the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, the National Assembly Caucus, and other party bodies for their efforts in preparing for the 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, which is scheduled to hold in November. The party leadership described the preparations as thorough and necessary to ensure that the convention would be inclusive, orderly, and reflective of all stakeholders’ interests.
Despite this projected unity, the zoning decision has generated criticism and debate from various quarters, particularly from former presidential aspirant Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.
Speaking on Channels Television, Olawepo-Hashim warned that the zoning could threaten party cohesion and described it as “a big error” and “unprecedented in the PDP’s history.” He argued that while the party has always debated internally and allowed caucuses to influence delegates, it had never formally barred aspirants from any specific region.
He recalled that in 1999, the PDP allowed multiple aspirants from different regions to contest, citing General Olusegun Obasanjo’s contest against Alhaji Abubakar Rimi from the North and Dr Alex Ekwueme from the South-East as examples. He stressed that the party historically allowed delegates to determine outcomes without restricting entire regions, adding that the NEC decision could raise constitutional concerns because it excludes members based on geographic origin.
Olawepo-Hashim warned that any member who is excluded could seek legal recourse, and courts might intervene, potentially nullifying the party’s candidate. He acknowledged that while the NEC acted with the intent of maintaining stability, human error remains a possibility, and the party could revisit the decision if required.
The zoning policy has also triggered immediate political activity on the ground. On Monday, roughly one thousand supporters of Dr Olawepo-Hashim gathered outside the NEC venue at Wadata Plaza, holding placards urging him to declare his candidacy for the 2027 presidential race.
The demonstration was coordinated by three major support groups, the Hashim Unity Group led by Hon. Musa Makanda, The Hashims led by Mr. Sunday Tsado, and Hashim Advocates led by Mallam Abba. The groups described Dr Olawepo-Hashim as “a credible alternative and a unifier the nation urgently needs at this critical time,” and called on the PDP leadership to emulate his political conduct and prepare him as the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the rally, the leaders said, “Dr Hashim embodies the finest qualities of leadership within the PDP vision, integrity, and a consistent track record of advocacy for democracy and good governance. We urge the party leadership to emulate his political conduct and prepare him as the PDP flagbearer ahead of the 2027 presidential election.”
PDP youth leaders from across Nigeria’s 36 states have also formally welcomed Dr Olawepo-Hashim to the party. They praised his commitment to youth inclusion, accountability, and consistent advocacy for democratic governance, urging other leaders to follow his example as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Olawepo-Hashim and his supporters have cautioned that while the zoning decision is intended to stabilise leadership, it could inadvertently strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by narrowing the field of viable PDP candidates and potentially alienating Northern voters. Analysts have noted that while the decision may offer short-term internal stability, it risks undermining the party’s national appeal and restricting the diversity of its leadership pool.
The ruling APC has seized on the zoning debate to reinforce its political narrative ahead of the 2027 elections. On Monday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka issued a statement castigating the PDP Governors Forum for questioning the integrity of recent by-elections. He described the opposition as a party “in deep comatose” and “a shadow of its old self.” Morka said, “The PDP has fallen into ruins. Its governors should concentrate on resuscitating their terminally ailing party.”
The APC pointed to electoral outcomes in states such as Zamfara, Adamawa, and Kano as evidence of public support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope policies. The party argued that the PDP’s habit of contesting defeats while celebrating victories is “infantile and irresponsible,” undermining the principles of democracy and demonstrating selective engagement with electoral outcomes.
The PDP’s zoning decision, the reaction of Dr Olawepo-Hashim and his supporters, and the APC’s response collectively illustrate the intensifying political contest ahead of the 2027 elections. Both parties are now positioning strategically, balancing internal party stability, national appeal, and preparation for a competitive presidential race. The developments indicate that Nigeria’s political landscape is entering a period of heightened activity, with debates over party zoning, leadership choices, and regional representation likely to dominate the lead-up to the next general election.
The zoning decision, though framed as a stabilising measure within the PDP, has created a new set of challenges that include potential legal scrutiny, mobilization of alternative aspirants, and heightened engagement from youth and civil society actors. Meanwhile, the APC is leveraging the unfolding scenario to strengthen its messaging and consolidate support ahead of 2027, signalling that Nigeria’s political environment is entering an unusually dynamic phase of contestation and strategic positioning.
