The Peoples Democratic Party’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting has decided to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
The party recently retained the existing National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention.
Speaking to journalists after the NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, revealed that the decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.
According to Debo, the NEC expressed satisfaction over the level of readiness of the PDP’s different organs, Chapters and structures for the 2025 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, on Saturday, 15th to Sunday, 16th November 2025.
He stated that the meeting praised the efforts of PDP governors, Board of Trustees, NWC, National Assembly caucus, and other party organs toward the success of the 2025 National Convention.
“NEC received and after extensive deliberation approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee which recommended that all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region.
That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region.
That having retained the position of the National Chairman in the Northern Region of the country, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the Southern Region.
That the Regions should immediately micro-zone positions within its Region for implementation.
NEC also received an update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee and directed the Committee to circulate the Draft Constitution Amendment to various Organs and Chapters of the Party for further inputs,” it read.
Debo confirmed that Umar Damagum has been named National Chairman, effective Monday, August 25, 2025, in recognition of his role in stabilising the party, pending the National Convention.
He noted that NEC expressed its unhappiness at the militarisation of the recent bye-elections, tagging it further confirmation that APC plans to turn Nigeria into a totalitarian one-party state.
“NEC condemns the resort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to State Capture through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians as witnessed in APC’s muzzling of the recent bye-elections in parts of the country.
NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the militarisation of the recent bye-elections especially in Kaduna and Taraba States as well as Zamfara State where excessive security agencies were deployed in the conduct of the run-off election in only five Polling Units in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency.
NEC declares that this action by the APC is a confirmation of the APC’s desire to turn our country into a totalitarian One-Party State which is a clear and present danger to democracy and the corporate existence of our country.
NEC reassures Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to Democracy and the defense of the interest and well-being of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our Party to regain power in 2027,” he added.
