2027 Polls: PDP Zones Presidency To South, Warns APC Won’t Play Fair
Published: August 19, 2025
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a move party leaders say is necessary to restore equity in the power-sharing arrangement and re-energize its support base. But beyond the declaration, the decision has triggered political recalculations, revived old rivalries, and cast new questions over the credibility of the elections, with the PDP warning that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may not provide a fair contest.
For years, the PDP has prided itself on respecting Nigeria’s informal power-rotation arrangement between the North and South. Party insiders say the 2027 decision was largely influenced by the outcome of the 2023 elections, which saw the PDP’s northern candidate, Atiku Abubakar, lose to APC’s southern candidate, Bola Tinubu.
PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum described the zoning resolution as “a moral necessity” that would restore confidence in the party’s internal justice system. According to him, only by honoring its principles can PDP galvanize unity across regions.
“This is not just about winning elections; it is about fairness. Power must move to the South, and we are ready to stand by that decision,” Damagum stated after the NEC meeting in Abuja.
The PDP, however, tempered its optimism with caution. Damagum and other party officials warned that the APC, which controls federal power, might attempt to tilt the electoral process in its favor. They cited alleged irregularities in the 2023 polls and raised concerns over the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We know the APC will not play fair. Nigerians must remain vigilant, because democracy is only meaningful when elections reflect the people’s will,” Damagum said.
The zoning decision immediately shifts attention to southern heavyweights within the PDP. Potential frontrunners include:
- Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who has built a reputation for reformist governance and may appeal to technocrats.
- Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, widely admired for his youth, charisma, and growing influence in the South-West.
- Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, though technically from the North-Central, has strong ties across regions and could attempt to build a Southern coalition.
- Nyesom Wike, the current FCT Minister and former Rivers State governor, remains a controversial figure. While he commands significant influence in the South-South, his ties to APC raise questions about his loyalty and acceptability within PDP ranks.
- Peter Obi, though now associated with the Labour Party, remains a popular figure in the South-East. Some PDP stakeholders still hope to woo him back, either as a presidential or vice-presidential candidate, to strengthen the party’s ticket.
Analysts say PDP’s zoning move is a direct response to APC’s likely strategy of fielding President Tinubu for re-election in 2027. By presenting a southern candidate, PDP aims to neutralize APC’s ethnic advantage while framing the contest around credibility, competence, and governance failures.
Yet, there are risks. If internal divisions over candidate selection deepen, the PDP could suffer the same fate as in 2023, when multiple factions weakened its national campaign.
Beyond party politics, the zoning decision reflects Nigeria’s fragile democracy, where questions of fairness, inclusion, and electoral transparency remain unresolved. Citizens in the South, particularly the South-East, will be watching closely to see whether PDP offers them a real path to power or simply recycles old faces.
As the 2027 race begins to take shape, the PDP finds itself at a crossroads. The decision to zone its ticket to the South may unify its base for now, but the true test will be whether it can present a candidate capable of defeating a ruling party that controls the levers of federal power.
For many Nigerians, the contest is no longer just about who governs, but about whether the democratic process itself can withstand pressure from entrenched interests
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