The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concluded its 102nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025, in Abuja, marking significant decisions regarding its leadership and the party's strategy for the 2027 general elections. Among the key resolutions was the formal confirmation of Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party, a position he had held in an acting capacity since March 2023.

Ambassador Damagum's confirmation was unanimously ratified by the NEC, the party's highest decision-making body, and followed his tenure as acting chairman after the suspension and court-upheld removal of the former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. According to the party's constitution, Damagum, previously the Deputy National Chairman (North), assumed the role as both he and Ayu hail from the Northern region. His appointment is effective until the national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, from November 15 to 16, 2025. In his acceptance speech, Damagum expressed gratitude to the NEC members, acknowledging the challenging period the party navigated under his leadership and emphasizing the party's continued unity.

A pivotal decision from the NEC meeting involved the zoning of the PDP's 2027 presidential ticket. The party resolved to zone the presidential candidate position to the Southern region of the country. This decision was reached after extensive deliberation and approval of the zoning committee's recommendations. PDP National Spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, clarified that this move was a strategic balance, as the position of National Chairman was retained in the Northern region. The NEC also affirmed that all existing national office positions currently in the Northern region would remain there, and similarly for those in the Southern region, maintaining the current distribution until the national convention.

This zoning decision effectively rules out potential Northern aspirants like Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and revives the PDP's tradition of rotating the presidency between the North and South to ensure national balance and inclusiveness. The last PDP president from the South was Goodluck Jonathan, who served until 2015. There are ongoing speculations about the party potentially wooing Jonathan for the 2027 flagbearership, though he remains silent. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is another name gaining attention, with his posters appearing across the country, despite no open declaration of interest.

The NEC's decision quickly drew reactions from various quarters. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the G-5 group viewed the zoning of the presidency to the South while retaining the National Chairman in the North as a clear vindication of their stance in 2022. Wike's Senior Special Assistant, Lere Olayinka, stated that the party had realized its mistake from 2022 when it failed to heed the G-5's insistence that the presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar, North) and National Chairman (Iyorchia Ayu, North) should not be from the same zone. This imbalance, they argued, contributed to the party's