The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a significant step toward shaping its leadership and strategy for the 2027 general elections by inaugurating a 44-member zoning committee on Thursday at its national headquarters in Abuja.
The committee, tasked with allocating key party positions and the presidential ticket across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, is chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, with Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal as vice chairman and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang as secretary.
The move comes ahead of the party’s National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15-16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The inauguration, led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, underscored the party’s commitment to fairness, equity, and unity as it seeks to rebuild public confidence and position itself for electoral success.
Damagum described the committee as the “engine room” for laying the political foundation for the PDP’s leadership over the next four years, emphasizing that its decisions will shape the party’s ability to win elections and uphold democratic values.
“Our zoning process must reflect fairness, equity, and strategic thinking, as well as strengthen our unity, reward loyalty, and position us for victory,” he said.
A key focus of the inauguration was a pointed demand for loyalty from party members, with a particular spotlight on Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor.
Wike, who ran for the PDP presidential ticket in 2022 but lost to Atiku Abubakar, has been a polarizing figure within the party.
His subsequent support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 election, alongside four other PDP governors, sparked a lingering crisis within the party.
Damagum’s call for loyalty appeared directed at Wike, signaling that the PDP is keen to enforce discipline and unity as it prepares for 2027.
“Loyalty is the lifeblood of our party. Without it, unity is impossible,” Damagum said, adding that competence must accompany loyalty.
“As you consider zoning, picture the calibre of individuals who may emerge from each zone. Will this person embody the values and strength of the PDP in a way that makes us proud before the nation?”
The committee’s mandate includes determining the zoning of the party’s national offices and the 2027 presidential ticket, a decision that has historically been contentious.
In 2021, the PDP zoned its chairmanship to the north, but the 2022 presidential ticket was left open, leading to internal divisions.
The current committee, comprising 37 state representatives and six members from the party’s Board of Trustees, is expected to deliver a zoning formula that balances regional interests and fosters unity.
Governor Diri, in his acceptance remarks, assured that the committee would consult widely to produce a fair arrangement.
“We will partner and consult to arrive at a just zoning formula that will unite Nigerians and strengthen the PDP,” he said.
The PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, expressed full support for the committee’s work, with Mohammed emphasizing the party’s historical contributions to Nigeria’s democracy.
“All measurable achievements in Nigeria’s democratic history bear the mark of the PDP. We cannot afford another period of hunger, anger, and disillusionment,” he said.
The committee’s formation follows the recent inauguration of 39 new members into the PDP’s Board of Trustees, including prominent figures like former governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, signaling a broader effort to reposition the party.
With Atiku Abubakar’s exit from the PDP, the race for the 2027 presidential ticket has intensified, with names like Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde emerging as potential contenders.
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