ABUJA – UNLIKE what it did in 2023, when it threw its presidential ticket open, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has zoned its 2027 ticket to the South.
This is in tandem with Wednesday’s decision of founding fathers of the party.
The PDP also announced that its Elective National Convention would now take place in Ibadan, Oyo State; instead of Kano, a decision that may deepen the rift between the camps of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The NEC adopted the recommendation to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South, an outcome viewed as aligning with Makinde’s potential presidential ambition.
The decision was confirmed during the party’s 101st National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting held in Abuja, yesterday.
The move is seen as a strategic effort to boost Makinde’s influence in the party, possibly to the disadvantage of Wike and his loyalists.
The NEC meeting, chaired by acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, brought together top PDP leaders to tackle key issues affecting party unity and electoral readiness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This came as Damagun boasted of PDP’s fortunes despite recent defections to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, saying that many of the defectors had returned to the PDP.
But the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said that many defectors would return to the party if it delivers strong and inspiring leadership at its upcoming national convention.
Also, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauch State, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the party was ready to welcome the defectors.