PDP Demonstrates Strong Character Despite Threats

• Zones presidency to the South

By PHC Telegraph

Despite threats which preceded its NEC meeting, the Peoples Democratic Party Monday met and decided that its 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South.

The meeting also agreed that the position of the National Chairman of the party has been zoned to the North.

According to a communique issued by Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary at the end of the meeting, the National Executive Committee, NEC,  deliberated on critical issues pertaining to the future of the party.

Part of the communique read, “NEC expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of the Party at its various 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.

“NEC acknowledged with satisfaction the efforts and commitment of PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Assembly Caucus and other relevant bodies of the Party towards the success of the forthcoming 2025 National Convention at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.

“NEC received and after extensive deliberation approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee which recommended as follows:

(a) That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region.

(b) That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region.

(c) 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.

(d) That the Regions should immediately micro-zone positions within its Region for implementation.”

On the issue of ongo-ing efforts to amend certain sect-ions of the PDP Constitution, NEC directed the appropriate committee to circulate drafts of proposed amendments‍ to various organs as well as chapters of the party for their inputs.

It ratified the position of Amb. Iliya Damagum as the substantive chairman of the party, saying it recognised the untiring efforts of the National Working Committee under the able leadership of the Acting National Chairman to stabilize the Party.

NEC declared that Damagum will serve as the chairman until the PDP National Convention is held in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, on the 15th and the 16th of November, 2025.

The communique further added that “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.

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“NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the militarization 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 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 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 wellbeing of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our Party to regain power in 2027.”

In the meantime, the next NEC meeting is to hold on Wednesday, 15th October, 2025.

The decision of the party on a number issues is drawing mixed reactions in some quarters.

The spokesman for the Minister of the FCT, Lere Olayinka said the zoning of power to the South justifies the fight of the G5 against Atiku’s presidential bid.

“Now, that the party has realised its mistake of not listening to Wike and the G-5 in 2022, and have chosen to do what they said, three years after, have they not been vindicated now”, Olayinka asked.

But Olayinka however noted that the party’s decision is coming too late in the day, an open indication that Wike and his supporters would not abandon their resolve to back President Tinubu in the 2027 election.

There are others who are arguing that zoning power to the South is an error. For proponents of this position, PDP’s resolve will generate a constitutional issue.

They say the zoning arrangement wholly endorsed by NEC attempts to muzzle the North and stop competent persons from the region who are interested in the PDP presidential ticket from contesting against Tinubu.