The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025, where it made pivotal decisions regarding its leadership and the 2027 presidential election.

In a significant move, the party formally zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of Nigeria. This decision, reached in a closed-door session, marks a departure from the more flexible arrangement of 2023 when the ticket was open to all regions. Party insiders confirmed that the consensus-driven decision aims to balance interests and rebuild trust within the party, following advice from its founding fathers.

Alongside the presidential zoning, the NEC ratified AmbassadorUmar Iliya Damagumas the party’s substantive National Chairman. Damagum had been serving as the acting national chairman since March 2023, stepping in after the suspension and subsequent court-ordered removal of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

His confirmation, effective from August 25, 2025, is expected to restore stability and provide organizational clarity as the PDP prepares for its forthcoming national convention. The NEC further approved that the office of the national chairman would remain in the Northern region, while other national offices of theNational Working Committee (NWC)would be retained in their current zones, with micro-zoning to be handled by the respective regions.

The decision to zone the presidential ticket to the South has drawn diverse reactions. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate and chieftain of the PDP, strongly criticized the move as a “big error” and "unprecedented" in the party's history. Speaking on Channels TV, Olawepo-Hashim argued that this decision could undermine national unity by effectively excluding northerners from contesting the presidency within the party.

Photo Credit: BBC News

He characterized the zoning as a “default campaign” for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that those advocating for southern zoning are also working for Tinubu's return. He also raised concerns about potential constitutional issues, noting that the Nigerian constitution does not permit discrimination against party members based on their region for elective positions, and warned of possible legal challenges.

Conversely, Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, stated that the PDP's decision vindicated the position taken by his principal and the G-5 governors in 2022. Olayinka recalled that the G-5 had insisted that the presidential candidate and the National Chairman should not hail from the same zone, particularly after Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (a northerner) emerged as the presidential candidate while Senator Iyorchia Ayu (also a northerner) remained as National Chairman.

He argued that the party is now correcting its past mistake by ensuring the National Chairman is from the North and the presidential ticket goes to the South, but questioned if this correction, made three years later, comes "too late" for the party's fortunes, especially concerning the justification of a southern president concluding an eight-year term by 2031.

The zoning is seen by some as clearing the path for prominent figures like former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to contest the 2027 presidential race on the PDP platform. Jonathan is perceived by supporters as a suitable candidate for garnering Northern support due to constitutional constraints on his term. Obi, despite his affiliations with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and a faction of the Labour Party, has also been considered a strong choice by some within the PDP given his considerable support base, and has openly indicated interest in the 2027 presidential contest without yet committing to a party.

Other reactions included Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, who attributed the 2023 electoral setback to the party's decision to put its "best foot forward" with Atiku regardless of region, asserting that the 2027 zoning reflects a belief in equity. Ejiofor Onyia, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, expressed optimism that "everything is falling in place" for the party, while accusing Nyesom Wike of working for an opposition party.

Public Affairs Analyst Nduka Odo, however, described the zoning as a “cosmetic treatment” that fails to address the party's fundamental challenges, questioning its relevance given the PDP's diminished strength and suggesting that the choice of a southern candidate might strategically target Peter Obi's chances rather than genuinely aiming for victory. Odo further speculated on Wike's continued influence and predicted a bleak future for the PDP in national politics.

Photo Credit: Punch Newspapers

Beyond the zoning and leadership decisions, the NEC meeting addressed several other critical issues. It expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for the 2025 elective national convention scheduled for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The NEC also received an update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee, directing it to circulate the draft to various party organs for further input.

Furthermore, the party strongly condemned what it termed the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s "State Capture" tactics, including intimidation, manipulation, and militarization of recent bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States. The PDP described these actions as a clear and present danger to democracy, reiterating its commitment to defending democracy and the wellbeing of citizens while working to regain power in 2027.

Ahead of the convention, warnings were issued by party leaders; Senator Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, cautioned against aggrieved members attempting to scuttle the planned national convention, while Ambassador Damagum reiterated that no individual or faction is bigger than the party. The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara (represented by Senator Ahmed Makarfi), called for leniency towards defecting members. The next NEC meeting has been slated for October 15, 2025.