PDP Zones Ticket to South, Makinde, Others Set for Battle

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a decision that positions Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and other southern leaders to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.

This resolution was reached on Monday during the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. The NEC also ratified the current zoning formula of the National Working Committee (NWC), confirming that all national offices will remain in their respective northern and southern blocs. In addition, Umar Damagum was confirmed as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

The PDP further announced that its 2025 elective national convention will hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16.

Reacting to the development, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the PDP’s move. APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, insisted that the opposition party is heading for defeat in 2027 regardless of the region or candidate it fields.

Meanwhile, allies of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, maintained that the former Anambra governor is still consulting before deciding on his political future.

For the PDP, the issue of zoning has historically been a source of division. In 2015, northern stakeholders opposed then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, arguing the presidency should return to the North—a disagreement that contributed to PDP’s loss to the APC. Again, in 2023, five governors led by then Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, rejected Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy, citing the need for power rotation to the South after Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.

The fallout from leadership disputes also triggered defections of top figures such as David Mark, Dino Melaye, and Gabriel Suswam to the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Despite these challenges, PDP leaders expressed satisfaction with preparations for the 2025 convention and praised the efforts of governors, the Board of Trustees, the NWC, the National Assembly caucus, and other party organs in strengthening the party ahead of the polls.