PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Slot to South, Retains Chairmanship in the North

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region of Nigeria while insisting that the party’s chairmanship remains in the North. The decision was reached during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

In a unanimous resolution, the NEC also ratified the continuation of Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as the party’s substantive National Chairman. Damagum, who stepped in as acting chairman in March 2023 following the suspension of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, had his position solidified after months of speculation. His confirmation not only underscores the PDP’s power-sharing tradition but also signals the party’s commitment to balancing internal interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Party insiders revealed that the zoning arrangement was aimed at reducing internal rancor and fostering inclusivity, particularly after the turbulence that trailed the 2023 election cycle. However, the announcement has already sparked heated debate among stakeholders across the country.

The Zoning Question and Political Realities

The issue of zoning the presidency has long been a contentious one in Nigeria’s political discourse. The PDP’s latest move comes against the backdrop of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) consolidating support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to seek re-election in 2027. Tinubu, a southerner and former Lagos State governor, has already been unanimously adopted by the APC as its flagbearer.

This reality complicated the PDP’s internal deliberations. In 2023, the party controversially threw its ticket open, paving the way for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, to clinch the candidacy. That decision alienated several southern blocs and deepened cracks within the opposition. The fallout contributed to key defections, most notably that of former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, whose open support for Tinubu weakened PDP’s southern base during the election.

By zoning the ticket southward this time, the PDP appears to be responding to both internal pressures and external realities. The move is seen as a strategic attempt to match APC’s southern candidate with a southern contender of its own, while retaining northern loyalty through the chairmanship slot.

Damagum’s Rise and Northern Retention of Chairmanship

Umar Damagum’s elevation from Deputy National Chairman (North) to the top seat in 2023 was initially seen as a temporary arrangement. However, his steady leadership has now been formalized, further consolidating northern dominance over the party’s administrative helm. The NEC’s affirmation of Damagum’s chairmanship is widely interpreted as a calculated political trade-off for zoning the presidential ticket to the South.

The North has historically played a central role in PDP’s survival and electoral fortunes. Retaining the chairmanship is thus seen as a conciliatory gesture, ensuring that northern powerbrokers remain firmly invested in the party’s success. This balance, analysts argue, may be the PDP’s best bet to avoid another round of defections or protests from influential northern stakeholders who might have felt sidelined by the zoning outcome.

Nonetheless, critics warn that the move could deepen existing distrust between the North and South within the party. Some southern members argue that real power-sharing should also include reforms in party structure and decision-making processes, not just zoning arrangements.

Wike’s Warning and the Opposition’s Dilemma

One of the most vocal critics of the PDP’s previous approach to zoning has been Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the Tinubu administration. Wike, who has maintained influence within the PDP despite his strained relationship with its leadership, had in May 2025 cautioned the party against repeating the “mistake of 2023.”

According to Wike, zoning the presidential ticket back to the North while APC fields a southern candidate would have been “political suicide.” He argued that selfishness and tactical miscalculations had cost the PDP dearly in the past and warned that a repeat in 2027 would further erode the party’s credibility. His concerns, it seems, have been partially heeded with the NEC’s resolution.

However, questions remain about whether Wike and his supporters will throw their weight behind the PDP’s southern candidate or continue to work at cross purposes. The rift between him and the party’s mainstream leadership remains unresolved, and his alliance with President Tinubu complicates any hopes of unified opposition.

What Next for the PDP?

The PDP’s zoning decision sets the stage for a heated contest to determine who emerges as the southern flagbearer. Names such as Akwa Ibom’s Udom Emmanuel, Bayelsa’s Douye Diri, and even former Anambra governor Peter Obi—though now with the Labour Party—are already being speculated in political circles. The South-West and South-East zones, in particular, are expected to lobby aggressively for the slot, each claiming historical marginalization within the party’s power structure.

While zoning may calm internal disputes temporarily, the real challenge lies in unifying the party behind a credible candidate capable of dislodging an incumbent president. The APC machinery remains formidable, with Tinubu’s incumbency advantage and broad coalition-building strategy. PDP’s task, therefore, is not only to produce a southern candidate but also to forge a pan-Nigerian coalition that can rival APC’s dominance.

In the end, zoning might provide the PDP with a clearer direction, but it will not in itself guarantee electoral victory. The opposition must now prove that it can learn from past mistakes and rally Nigerians around a vision compelling enough to challenge Tinubu’s grip on power in 2027.