PDP’s zoning of its 2027 presidential ticket to the South has sparked protests from northern stakeholders alleging marginalisation, while southern leaders hail it as a unifying step.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South has triggered mixed reactions across the country, with northern stakeholders alleging marginalisation while party leaders insist the move will unify the party.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP resolved on Monday that the South should produce its next presidential candidate, citing the unwritten power rotation between North and South. But groups such as the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations (JACON) described the decision as “unjust and undemocratic,” warning of “grave consequences” in 2027.
North-Central leaders also rejected the zoning formula. Professor K’tso Nghargbu of the North Central Renaissance Movement said: “Any political party that is not willing to zone the presidency to the North—and particularly to the North Central—may not and will not have the votes of our people.”
However, PDP leaders from the South praised the move. Former Deputy National Chairman Chief Bode George called those opposing it “selfish and manipulative,” while Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor described it as “a strategic step to preserve unity.”
Meanwhile, the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement said the NEC’s decision was unconstitutional and risky, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flayed both PDP and APC for focusing on zoning two years before elections instead of governance.
Despite the uproar, insiders revealed some northern leaders are already backing a credible southern candidate, with names like former President Goodluck Jonathan and Mr. Peter Obi being mentioned.