The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South. The decision, disclosed in a communiqué read by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, following the 102nd meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Mondayy, was the outcome of series of closed-door meetings involving key organs of the party
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the PDP also confirmed Ambassador Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party, from his hitherto acting status, with immediate effect.
According to Ologunagba, “NEC received and, after extensive deliberation, approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee, which recommended as follows:
*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”.
And acting swiftly on the resolutions, Damagum was sworn in by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade as the substantive National Chairman.
Other resolutions of the PDP at the meeting were as follows:
“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 also received 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.
“In recognition of the efforts of the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum in stabilising the Party, NEC hereby ratifies and confirms the appointment of Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the Party with effect from today, Monday, 25th August, 2025 until the National Convention holding at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital on 15th to 16th November, 2025”.
Alleging militarisation of the Saturday August 16, 2025, by-elections, the NEC claimed that they were fraught with vote-buying and intimidation and heavy deployment of security personnel.
“The 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 by-elections, especially in Kaduna and Taraba states as well as Zamfara state, where excessive security agencies were deployed to conduct 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 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.”
Expressing its commitment to democracy and defending the interests and well-being of all citizens, and working hard to regain power in 2027, the NEC reassured that the party would work harder towards repositioning itself to regain power in 2027.
It’s next (103rd) meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2025.