The Traffic

2027: PDP’s Zoning Tactics a Bait for Obi, Jonathan, Amaechi – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) recent zoning decision for the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a calculated ploy to attract political heavyweights like Peter Obi, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised both the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for engaging in political posturing instead of tackling Nigeria’s urgent socioeconomic problems.

He argued that the early zoning announcements reflected insensitivity to the plight of ordinary citizens.

“Why are we so preoccupied and behaving in such a way that Nigerians begin to look at the political elite across the divides as if we don’t care about them?” Abdullahi queried.

The PDP recently announced that its 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South, with the party’s national chairmanship reserved for the North. Meanwhile, APC leaders have already endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate, citing Nigeria’s informal North-South power rotation.

Abdullahi dismissed both moves as political gamesmanship.

“They (APC and PDP leaders) are very experienced people, and they know the implications of showing their hand too early. So, it’s either they are playing a predetermined game or baiting some people to come around,” he noted.

He stressed that the ADC is not fixated on any single aspirant, insisting that figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi would have equal opportunities if they sought the party’s ticket.

“In the papers yesterday, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came out to say he is going to run. Don’t forget we still have the likes of Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and others who may be interested in running — and we have reiterated that they all have an equal chance,” Abdullahi said.

According to him, the ADC has not zoned its presidential ticket, choosing instead to focus on grassroots mobilisation and building a credible alternative platform.

“What is most important to us is to convince Nigerians that we represent the alternative that can bring respite to their current sufferings. As far as the ADC is concerned, we are not having that zoning conversation now. We are focused on mobilising at the grassroots and putting up structures,” he explained.

Abdullahi stressed that the PDP’s strategy would not rattle the ADC.

“We are not bothered with what the PDP has done. Nigerians can see right through it. For PDP to take that decision two years ahead of the presidential election, there must be a game on. But we are not pressured — we are focused on our party,” he concluded.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna