The next general election in Nigeria might be nearly two years away, but the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seems to have started preparations aimed at wrestling power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
The party, at its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the south, meaning only members from the southern part of the country can obtain the presidential ticket, and its standard flagbearer will be a southerner.
The party also retained Umar Damagum as national chairman until its national convention in November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Meanwhile, the decision taken by the party to make a southerner as flagbearer in the 2027 election has generated excitement, arguments, and, of course, political calculations. But the billion-dollar question is: can PDP defeat APC, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and others and return to Aso Rock in 2027 with a southern candidate?
Why did PDP zone 2027 presidential ticket to South?
The PDP has been battling with an internal crisis since the buildup of the 2023 general election, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (who was the flagbearer of the APC) emerged as the winner. Tinubu had contested against Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and others.
How PDP Crisis Started?
It was said that Atiku’s emergence as the flagbearer of the PDP weakened the party, which eventually made Tinubu win the election. This is because some chieftains of the party opposed having the chairman (Senator Iyorchia Ayu) and the presidential candidate from the north.
The key group within the party in the agitation is the G5 Governors, self-styled as the Integrity Group. They are a group of five governors, namely Nyseom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, former Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
These governors (four of whom are now out of office) refused to support Atiku because they believed the presidency ought to rotate from the north to the south. In their view, Atiku becoming President after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari would amount to two consecutive presidents from the north, negating inclusivity and rotational presidency.
By relying on the strength of the zoning principle enshrined in the PDP constitution, the governors not only refused to support the emergence of their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the general elections but also engaged in anti-party activities by supporting other candidates. In fact, four of the G5 governors worked for Tinubu while Ortom worked for Peter Obi.
The party eventually lost the 2023 election to Tinubu, and this sparked a wave of defections to the ruling APC, particularly among members of the National Assembly and governors.
Notable among the recent defections is Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno. Similarly, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, commissioners, and others also joined the APC in April 2025.
In response, the PDP’s National Working Committee held an emergency meeting in Abuja to confront growing disunity and internal tension.
Atiku dumped PDP during trying times
Amid the chaos, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar — who has contested for the presidency six times — dumped the party and formed a formidable opposition coalition under the African Democratic Party (ADC) with political bigweights like Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, former Senate President, David Mark, former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, and others, ahead of 2027.
He described the mission as a response to what he sees as the threat of a creeping “one-party state” under the APC. While, G5 group, led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has renewed calls for zoning the 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
PDP zone P2027 ticket to South, Chairman to North
Meanwhile, the PDP at its 102nd on Monday, August 25, 2025, zoned the Presidency to Southern Nigeria, meaning that its Presidential candidate of the party can come from either South-West, South-South, or South-East.
According to BusinessDay, under the zoning arrangements, the party also zoned the Chairmanship position to the North, with Umar Damagum, Ahmed Makarfi, Jerry Gana, Kau Baraje as likely candidates to battle for the position of party Chairman.
Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, who also chairs the PDP National Convention Zoning Committee, revealed just before the party’s NEC meeting that governors had directed his committee to include the zoning of the presidency in its assignment.
He reminded members that the constitution of the party, as cited in their appointment letters, empowers the committee to zone not just party offices but also the presidency. However, he clarified that the committee’s job is not to micro-zone, but to broadly allocate positions between the North and South.
PDP zone 2027 ticket to South for unity and vibrant opposition
Acting PDP chairman, Umar Damagum, stressed that unity is now non-negotiable. Speaking at the BoT meeting ahead of the NEC, he said the PDP cannot afford cracks within its ranks. “Following the crisis that engulfed the party in the recent past, unity is now the strongest message that the party can pass across to the nation,” he told members.
He added that unity is the only way the PDP can be “a credible, vibrant and dominant opposition alive and ready to challenge the misrule of the APC and to offer Nigerians the hope and leadership.”
Damagum underscored the weight of the moment, saying: “This responsibility before us is great, and the choices we make in the coming weeks will determine not only the immediate future of our party, but also the destiny of our nation. We must also pay close attention to the tone of the nation.”
On cracks in the party, he admitted: “We must consolidate our ranks in the light of the recent factional issues that have emerged. While these distractions do not weaken our party’s image to achieve the intended effect, they remind us of the need for vigilance, dialogue, and unity.”
He added: “We cannot afford internal cracks at such a critical time in the life of our nation. Equally, the sensitive issue of the national zoning committee must be handled with seriousness and inclusivity. Zoning has always been one of the pillars of balance, stability, and fairness within our party. The decisions we take here today will significantly shape the confidence Nigerians place in our internal democratic processes.”
Can PDP Win in 2027 with a Southern Presidential Candidate?
The PDP believed zoning the presidential candidate to the south is about unity and the only way to bring “a credible, vibrant and dominant opposition alive and ready to challenge the misrule of the APC and to offer Nigerians the hope and leadership.”
PDP lines up Jonathan, others for battle against APC
To walk the talk, some PDP leaders were said to have met with former President Goodluck Jonathan to mount pressure on him to join the race. Jonathan, who ruled Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, is from Bayelsa State, a region in the South-South.
According to Vangurad, sources close to the former president, who confirmed the meeting between Dr Jonathan and the PDP leaders, said that “some PDP leaders met with Dr Goodluck Jonathan to woo him, ahead of the 2027 presidential election, but at the end of the day, the former President said he was still consulting and would get back to them.”
Similarly, former Borno State governor and ex-national chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, in an interview in July 2025, on Channels TV, claimed Peter Obi will return to the PDP ahead of the 2027 presidential election and contest on its platform.
“As far as this politics is concerned, ADC doesn’t exist. Give the party three months and it will die down,” Sheriff said. “The information available to me is that at any moment from now, Peter Obi will go back to PDP and run as a presidential candidate under PDP,” Sheriff said.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, South East, Nigeria, resigned from the PDP in May 2022, just days before its presidential primary. He joined the LP on May 27, 2022, and went on to become its presidential flagbearer in the 2023 elections, where he finished third behind Tinubu and Atiku.
Seyi Makinde, the incumbent governor of Oyo State, South-West, is also being rallied by the party to be its flagbearer.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a recent interview on Arise TV, described him as one of the PDP’s “poster boys” in terms of performance and his ability to mobilise broad support.
Bala drops presidential ambition, supports zoning to south
Already, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has expressed satisfaction with the zoning of the PDP, presidential ticket to the South.
Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, said he gave up his ambition to allow the PDP zone its presidential ticket to the South.
Addressing journalists yesterday, the governor said he was part of the decision-making regarding the zoning.
He said: “I’m very satisfied with the resolution because I’m part of it, from the arrangement, strategy, and delivery.
“It’s an all inclusive decision for us to have our NEC in Ibadan, Oyo State and sustain the existing zoning formula in the party offices and to zone the presidential office to the South South so that we can have some sanity, understanding, and unity.
“I’m calling on Nigerians to know that politics is not about personal interest, it’s about self actualization within the framework of party decisions, manifesto, and national development.
“Everything is predicated on sacrifice not interest and of course we must always give allowance, respect each other, and power comes from God.
“So we are always available as governors, NWC, BoT to work towards making sure that PDP is a darling of Nigerians so that we can give everyone the political space or allowances to come and actualize their aspirations.”
PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser, Mr Okechukwu Osuoha, hailed the zoning decision as a turning point that will unify the party and restore its credibility ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also, Mr. Austin Nwachukwu, Chairman of PDP State Chairmen Forum, said the zoning decision is binding on all members and no longer a subject of controversy, just as PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, strongly defended the zoning decision, insisting it is a strategic step to preserve unity and credibility in the party.
PDP zoning decision won’t stand — Olawepo-Hashim
However, faulting the zoning of the presidential ticket to the South, a PDP presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, said the decision will not stand, insisting that the final decision lies with the national convention, not the NEC.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP stated that he is prepared to petition the convention to overturn NEC’s decision, drawing parallels with past instances where similar moves had been defeated.
He said: “This zoning decision will not stand. In 2000, NEC decided to extend the tenure of the National Working Committee, NWC, led by Engr. Barnabas Gemade, from two to four years. I was then Deputy National Publicity Secretary. I led the G-54 members of the NEC, and we petitioned the national convention. The NEC’s decision was overturned.”
Olawepo-Hashim dismissed the zoning formula as undemocratic and unconstitutional, arguing that it robs the party of its best options in a critical election year.
“Why should the PDP zone its presidential ticket to the South and shut people out? In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo contested against Alex Ekwueme and Abubakar Rimi. In 2003, again, Obasanjo contested against Ekwueme and Rimi.
“More recently, President Bola Tinubu in the APC contested against 14 other presidential aspirants and won. That is democratic. What PDP is doing is not,” he stated.
‘Hand of Wike, voice of Tinubu’ — Dele Momodu
Dele Momodu, an ex-chieftain of PDP and former presidential aspirant, also criticised the party’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the south.
Momodu left the PDP for the ADC coalition in July.
In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Momodu described the move as “the most reckless decision in the history of our nascent democracy”.
He alleged that the decision was influenced by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whom he accused of working for President Bola Tinubu.
“Who did not know that ultimately the hand was that of Wike while the voice was that of Tinubu. Their game plan is not hidden,” he said.
“Wike keeps belching orders at helpless governors who are too jittery to stand firm against daredevil dictatorship. They could not even rescue one of their prominent members in Rivers State, Sim Fubara, when his boat of governance capsized.”
Momodu recalled that Wike opposed zoning in 2022 and even sought to be vice-president to a northern candidate, but is now insisting on a power shift to the south in 2027.He alleged that the decision was influenced by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whom he accused of working for President Bola Tinubu.
“Who did not know that ultimately the hand was that of Wike while the voice was that of Tinubu. Their game plan is not hidden,” he said.
“Wike keeps belching orders at helpless governors who are too jittery to stand firm against daredevil dictatorship. They could not even rescue one of their prominent members in Rivers State, Sim Fubara, when his boat of governance capsized.”
Momodu recalled that Wike opposed zoning in 2022 and even sought to be vice-president to a northern candidate, but is now insisting on a power shift to the south in 2027.
“The geniuses should be courageous enough to admit that Tinubu will be the joint candidate of APC and PDP in 2027. No Jupiter will stop Wike from using PDP structures for Tinubu. That’s already a done deal,” he said.
“Let PDP stop deceiving Nigerians that it will field a southern candidate against Tinubu. Speculations about the possible candidacy of Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi and Seyi Makinde are blatant lies from the pit of hell.”
APC, PDP may lose in North to a strong northern candidate – Rufai
To Abduljabbar Rufai, a PDP chieftain from Kano, Atiku’s dominance during the past primaries had prevented other northern leaders from stepping forward.
“For a long time, Atiku overshadowed other northern leaders during the PDP primaries. Now that he has resigned of his own free will, there is space for others to step up. In the past, whatever Atiku said was what the North followed in the PDP. That is no longer the case,” he said.
He acknowledged that zoning the presidency to the South might affect PDP’s support in parts of the North, but argued that the ruling APC could also lose votes if Atiku runs on another platform.
“Of course, zoning the presidency to the South may affect PDP’s chances in parts of the North. But the APC will also be affected, especially if Atiku contests under the ADC. At the end of the day, it will depend on who emerges as the candidate after the primaries next year,” Rufai added.
PDP members demanding zoning ticket to North selfish — Bode George
However, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, described calls for the party to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the North as selfish and manipulative.
The chieftain, who spoke on Channels Television’s programme on Tuesday, praised the decision of PDP governors and NEC to zone the ticket to the South, while retaining the chairmanship in the North.
“Unanimously, in that NEC meeting yesterday (Monday, August 25), we agreed to zone the ticket to the South for the next four years to complete the eight years in the South. But human beings manipulate because they want to grab power, and it’s nothing but self-centredness.
“I must emphatically thank all our governors; they are respectable young men. They held a meeting in Gusau and told themselves the truth, examined the facts, and came up to say, ‘look, there is no question of the chairman and president being in the same zone,’” George said.
According to him, the decision ended what he called “existential imbecility” in the party, and those who defected in the past were already returning, recognising that fairness and equity must prevail.
“It’s refreshing to see us come together as one indivisible party. The more divided a house is, the more defeated it becomes,” George noted.
PDP insists zoning move is about fairness, not Wike
The PDP, defending its decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South, said it was not done to favour FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, but to promote unity and stability in the party.
PDP’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, said on Arise TV that the party is not in crisis as some have claimed, but has only faced challenges like any organisation. According to him, zoning is part of the PDP’s founding principle of rotating power between North and South, and the decision had the backing of all organs of the party, including governors, NEC, and the BoT.
He stressed that the party is focused on reconciliation, discipline, and repositioning itself ahead of 2027, noting that every member — including Wike — was duly invited to meetings.
Looking ahead to its November 2025 convention in Ibadan, Ologunagba said preparations are in full gear and the PDP is determined to present credible candidates and remain a strong opposition ready to give Nigerians hope.
Zoning tickets two years to poll anti-people – ADC
Meanwhile, the opposition coalition, ADC, said the decision of the PDP and the APC to begin talks about zoning their 2027 presidential tickets two years before the election showed they don’t care about addressing the plights of Nigerians.
“The general election is still in 2027; it’s still two years away,” ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said on Channels Television’s programme yesterday.
“Why are we so preoccupied and behaving in such a way that Nigerians begin to look at the political elite across the political divides that we don’t care about them?” he queried.
Also, Abdullahi claimed that the PDP’s zoning move was a calculated plot to lure Jonathan, Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi, who are part of the ADC coalition, back to the PDP
Abdullahi, who noted that the PDP was playing a game, said: “Why are they taking the decision two years before the general election?
“They are very experienced people, and they know the implications of showing their way too early. So, it’s either they are playing the predetermined game or batting some people to come around because they’ve been shopping around for who will be the presidential candidate of the party.’’
“When people say the coalition was put together for a particular candidate running elections, in the papers yesterday, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came out to say he will run for president.
“So, if this whole thing was put together for him, why would he need to come out to say he is running for president? Don’t forget we still have the likes of Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and others who are interested in running, and we have reiterated that they have an equal chance,” he said.
While the ADC, APC, and other parties are yet to officially zone their presidential ticket, the PDP’s zoning can be seen as both a statement and a test. A statement that it has learnt from the wounds of 2023 and is willing to put unity above personal ambition. And a test of whether zoning alone can heal its internal crisis. With Atiku building a rival opposition in ADC, Wike’s shadow still looming large, and APC holding onto the machinery of power, 2027 will not be a walk in the park.
