The decision by the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria has pitted various northern groups in different camps, with many describing the development as undemocratic and contrary to the spirit of fair competition.
The National Executive Committee of the party, at its 102nd meeting on Monday, zoned the presidential ticket to the South, while retaining the current National Working Committee headed by Ambassador Umar Damagum.
Although, prominent northern figures in the PDP, including foundation members like former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana have been in the forefront urging the party to go south in its search of a candidate to vie against President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; some northern stakeholders have warned of the danger of losing significant votes in a region known for its voting strength.
Speaking exclusively with the punch on Tuesday, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, stated that the PDP’s decision to zone its ticket has raised many questions that require answers.
“By preemptively zoning the presidential ticket to the South, the PDP appears to be constraining fundamental rights, effectively sidelining potential candidates from the North who may possess the requisite qualifications and vision to lead the country. This decision not only diminishes the political strength of Northern voters but also risks alienating a significant portion of the electorate who may feel that their choices are being dictated by party machinations rather than genuine democratic processes.” This, he said, may give President Tinubu an easy ride against his potential opponents.
“As the APC prepares to nominate President Tinubu for re-election, the implications of the PDP’s zoning decision become even more pronounced. Tinubu, a seasoned politician with considerable influence and a well-established political network, is likely to leverage his incumbency and the support of the APC to solidify his position. In this context, the North may find itself in a unique position, one that could lead to a strategic consensus in Favour of Tinubu rather than the PDP.
“The northern political landscape is characterized by a complex interplay of ethnic, religious, and regional interests. Historically, Northern leaders have often prioritized unity and consensus-building as a means of navigating Nigeria’s diverse political terrain. However, the PDP’s decision to zone the presidential ticket to the South could inadvertently galvanize northern political actors to consolidate their support around Tinubu.
“The North, recognizing the potential risks of a divided political front, may opt to rally behind the incumbent, particularly if they perceive that the PDP’s choice is exclusionary and undermines their representation.
“The North’s support for Tinubu could be further reinforced by the perception that the PDP’s zoning strategy is not only politically motivated but also detrimental to the principles of democracy. In this light, Northern leaders may view their alignment with the APC as a means of safeguarding democratic ideals by promoting a candidate who, despite his Southern roots, has demonstrated an understanding of the complexities of Nigerian governance and has the potential to address the diverse needs of the nation,” he added.
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Leaders from the North Central zone, under the platform of the North Central Renaissance Movement, rejected the PDP’s zoning of its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the chairperson of the movement, Professor K’tso Nghargbu, argued that in the spirit of fairness, the presidential ticket should have been zoned to the North Central, as it remains the only zone yet to produce either a President or Vice President in a democratic dispensation.
He said, “As leaders of the North Central, we reject the PDP decision that zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
“Some have taken to armed struggle and branded themselves as freedom fighters. But in the North Central, the nationalist movement has never gone down that path and will never descend so low as to inflict harm, injury, or pain on the Nigerian state. Ours will always remain an intellectual struggle.
“Yet, despite numerous appeals, especially to our major political parties, to recognize a zone that has been consistently shortchanged politically, the only zone since independence that has never produced a civilian President or Vice President, the neglect continues. As we speak, political parties in Nigeria still take us for granted, undermining and despising our demands, even when they are peaceful, even when these are backed by facts.
He noted that despite the region’s abundant human and natural resources, Nigeria’s major political parties continued to sideline the zone.
He added, “Zoning is not just about North and South; within these blocs, fairness must extend to zones that have never been given the chance. And this is why we insist that any political party that fails to zone the 2027 presidency to the North, and more importantly to the North Central, risks losing millions of votes from our people.
“Our people, especially the younger generation, are tired of recycled and uninspiring leaders. They want fresh leadership rooted in fairness and inclusion. This is why our agitation goes beyond the simple North–South dichotomy. We are demanding equity within the Nigerian federation. It is not too much to ask that the North Central, a zone with solid credentials and undeniable contributions, be given the chance to prove itself in civilian leadership.”
Also, a coalition of northern youth groups under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations described the move as “anti-democratic, unjust, and a monumental betrayal” of the region.
The group, at a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna, warned the opposition party of grave political consequences if it failed to reverse the zoning arrangement.
Speaking at the briefing, JACON’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Sani Yaya, said, “The Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations has received with utter shock and profound dismay the anti-democratic and unjust decision by the PDP to zone its presidential candidacy for the 2027 elections exclusively to the Southern part of Nigeria.
“This decision is not only a grave affront to the principles of fairness and justice but also a monumental betrayal of the massive and unwavering support the North has given the PDP since the inception of the Fourth Republic. It is a reckless move that negates the very spirit of national unity and rotational equity, which the party claims to uphold.”
Similarly, political analysts believe the zoning debate could deepen internal cracks within the opposition party, especially as it struggles to rebuild following its defeat in the 2015 general elections.
A Kaduna-based analyst, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed, told The PUNCH that JACON’s position reflects a growing discontent among northern stakeholders who feel marginalized by the PDP.
“The North has always been a critical voting bloc for the PDP. If the party insists on zoning the ticket to the South, it risks losing its strongest electoral base,” he said. “But at the same time, the PDP leadership may argue that national unity requires a balance of power rotation.”
On its part, the Coalition of Northern Groups said the zoning was a deliberate attempt to shortchange the North of its democratic right.
CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, who spoke in an interview with PUNCH on Tuesday, said, “Even though it is a party affair and it is left for the party to decide, the reality is that it should be an open contest whereby every Nigerian has the right to contest for any seat in this country. I see no reason why the North should be exempted.
“In politics, it should be an open contest. When you zone both the National Chairman and the presidency to one region, it becomes a problem. The tradition has been that when the chairman comes from the North, the president emerges from the South, and vice versa. But restricting it this way will shortchange those with capacity, integrity and passion for the country,” he added.
PUNCH
