In a decisive move that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, setting the stage for an intense power tussle as the opposition party seeks to reclaim Aso Rock after over a decade in the wilderness.
The decision was ratified on Monday during the 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where party leaders and stakeholders converged to chart the course for the PDP’s political revival.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, revealed that the zoning decision was based on the recommendations of the Zoning Committee led by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.
“NEC recommended that the North and South should retain their current National Working Committee positions. Since the National Chairman remains zoned to the North, the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket is hereby zoned to the South,” Ologunagba announced.
The NEC also expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations for the party’s much-anticipated elective convention, scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
Ahead of the NEC decision, PDP governors held a marathon closed-door session on Saturday at the Government House, Gusau, Zamfara State. Though details of the meeting were kept under wraps, it is widely believed that discussions focused on the party’s internal strategy, unity, and the road to 2027.
The zoning of the ticket to the South is expected to spark a flurry of consultations, alignments, and possible realignments among southern heavyweights eyeing the top seat. Already, whispers within the party suggest that prominent figures from the South-South, South-East, and South-West are quietly building structures and courting delegates in anticipation of the primary battles.
The move comes at a critical juncture for the PDP, which has struggled to reclaim the presidency since its shocking defeat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. Despite retaining influence in several states and holding a significant bloc in the National Assembly, the party has been plagued by internal rifts, defections, and leadership crises.
By zoning its ticket to the South, the PDP aims to balance its internal power dynamics and project a more unified front ahead of the general elections. Political analysts, however, warn that the success of the strategy will depend on how well the party manages the ambitions of its gladiators and heals lingering wounds within its ranks.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer and political maneuverings intensifying across the country, the PDP’s zoning decision is bound to send shockwaves across Nigeria’s political space, forcing rival parties—especially the ruling APC—to recalibrate their strategies.
As the countdown begins, all eyes are now on the South: who will emerge as the standard-bearer to lead PDP’s comeback bid and challenge the APC for Nigeria’s highest office?
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