By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of the country, following a resolution at its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday in Abuja.
The decision was announced by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who read the communiqué after the meeting.
According to the resolution, all national offices currently held in the North will remain in the North, while those in the South will remain in the South.
With the position of National Chairman retained in the North, the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election will come from the South.
The NEC also directed that positions be “micro-zoned” within the respective regions for implementation.
In line with the decision, Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum who had been serving in an acting capacity was sworn in as substantive National Chairman by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade.
Damagum will serve in the role until the party’s National Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The NEC expressed satisfaction with preparations for the convention and commended the efforts of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, National Assembly Caucus, and other party structures in stabilizing the party ahead of the 2027 polls.
The party also received an update from its Constitution Amendment Committee and directed that the draft amendments be circulated to organs and chapters for further input.
Accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to turn Nigeria into a “totalitarian one-party state,” the PDP vowed to intensify efforts to reclaim power in 2027. The next NEC meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2025.
