The Traffic

2027: PDP’s Zoning Gamble to the South Stirs Northern Backlash

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria is causing ripples across the North, sparking sharp divisions among regional leaders and stakeholders.

At its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, the party resolved to retain Ambassador Umar Damagum’s leadership of the National Working Committee while zoning the presidential ticket to the South. But what was intended as a strategic balancing act has instead set off a storm of discontent in the North.

Northern Voices Cry Foul

While respected northern figures such as Prof Jerry Gana have openly backed the move, others see it as a betrayal of democratic fairness.

Yerima Shettima, President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, told The PUNCH that PDP’s zoning decision undermines open competition.

“By shutting out potential northern candidates, the PDP risks alienating its strongest voting bloc. This move could hand President Bola Tinubu a smooth ride in 2027,” Shettima warned.

He further argued that with Tinubu poised to seek re-election under the APC, northern leaders may find themselves rallying behind him—not out of loyalty, but as a strategic response to what they view as PDP’s exclusionary politics.

North Central Leaders Demand Fairness

From the North Central came an even louder rejection. Leaders under the North Central Renaissance Movement dismissed PDP’s zoning as unjust, insisting their zone deserves priority.

Professor K’tso Nghargbu, chair of the movement, said at a press briefing in Abuja:

“Since independence, the North Central has never produced a civilian President or Vice President. Our exclusion is deliberate, unfair, and cannot be justified. Any party that ignores us risks losing millions of votes.”

Nghargbu stressed that their agitation is rooted not in ethnic rivalry but in a long-denied quest for equity within Nigeria’s federation.

Youth Coalitions Threaten Fallout

Similarly, the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations (JACON) described PDP’s move as a “monumental betrayal.”

JACON’s spokesperson, Sani Yaya, accused the PDP of abandoning the very region that has historically secured its electoral strength.
“The North carried the PDP for decades. Now the party is turning its back on us. This is anti-democratic and reckless,” he declared.

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) echoed this sentiment, arguing that zoning limits credible options. CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, stressed that “leadership should be open to all Nigerians,” noting that zoning both the chairmanship and presidency within specific regions undermines internal democracy.

Analysts Warn of Internal Cracks

Political observers suggest the PDP may be sowing seeds of internal crisis at a time it can least afford disunity.

Kaduna-based analyst, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed, said:
“The PDP is gambling with its northern base, which has been its backbone since 1999. By closing off the ticket to the North, it risks further alienation and electoral defeat.”

ACF Urges Caution

But not all northern voices are in outright opposition. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has taken a measured stance, urging patience.

Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, ACF’s Publicity Secretary, described the debate as “premature,” noting that political processes ahead of 2027 are still unfolding. Former ACF Secretary-General, Anthony Sani, however, admitted zoning played a decisive role in 2023, when Tinubu outpaced Atiku Abubakar in the North.

The Road Ahead

With zoning now threatening to divide the PDP further, the party faces a delicate balancing act—retaining its southern appeal without hemorrhaging its critical northern support base.

Whether this gamble will reposition the PDP as a truly national alternative or push the North into Tinubu’s waiting arms remains to be seen.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna