The Peoples Democratic Party says it has zoned its party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections to the Southern Nigeria and the national chairman to the North.
The resolution was reached during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) 102nd convention held at the PDP’s national headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting to newsmen.
He said that the decision followed the recommendations of the report submitted by the Gov. Douye Diri-led National Convention Zoning Committee.
Ologunagba said that the NEC had after extensive deliberation approved the report of the committee which recommended as follows:
“That all PDP National office positions currently in the northern part of the country remain in the north.
“That all PDP National office positions currently in the southern part of the country remain in the south.
“That having retained the position of the national chairman in the north, the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 general elections is hereby zoned to the southern part.
“That the zones should immediately micro-zone positions within its zones for implementation,” he said
Ologunagba also disclosed the NEC affirmed Umar Damagum as the substantive national chairman of the party, till the party holds it elective convention in November.
“In recognition of the efforts of the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the acting National Chairman, Damagum in stabilising the party, NEC hereby ratifies and confirms the appointment of Damagum as the substantive national chairman of the party.
“This takes effect from today, Monday, Aug. 25 until the national convention holding at Ibadan, the Oyo on Nov. 15 to Nov. 16,” he said.
Ologunagba also said that the NEC 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.
He noted that the meeting further deliberated on the state of the party and expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of its various organs, chapters and structures for the 2025 elective national convention scheduled for Ibadan.
He added that the NEC acknowledged with satisfaction the efforts and commitment of PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the NWC, the National Assembly Caucus and other relevant bodies of the party towards the success of the forthcoming national convention.
He, however , said that the NEC condemns the intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence witnessed during the recent by-elections in parts of the country.
“The party he said condemned the militarisation of the recent by-elections especially in Kaduna and Taraba as well as Zamfara where excessive security agencies were deployed in the conduct of run-off election in only five Polling Units in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency,” he said.
Ologunagba reassured Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to democracy, the defense of the interest and wellbeing of all citizens as the party works hard to further reposition itself to regain power in 2027.
“The NEC was adjourned and fixed its next, 103rdd meeting to hold on Wednesday, Oct. 15,” he said.(NAN)
