Wike’s Reaction to PDP’s Zoning of Presidency to the South Sparks Debate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while retaining the national chairmanship in the North, a decision that has sparked heated debate within and outside the party.
The resolution was reached on Monday, August 25, during the party’s 102nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. The meeting was well attended by party leaders, including most PDP governors, members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), former governors, ministers, and national officers. Only Plateau State Governor, who is on a state visit to Brazil with President Bola Tinubu, and Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, were absent.
The NEC ratified the recommendations of the Zoning Committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, which had earlier submitted its report. According to the communiqué issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the decision was aimed at strengthening internal cohesion, ensuring balance, and preparing for the November 15–16 national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The NEC also ratified Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum as substantive National Chairman and condemned what it described as the excessive deployment of security forces by the ruling party during recent by-elections.
Reacting to the zoning arrangement, former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, through his aide, Lere Olayinka, described the move as a vindication of the G-5 governors’ position in 2022.
Wike and his allies had opposed the party’s earlier decision to allow both the presidential candidate and the national chairman to come from the North, warning that it violated fairness and would weaken the PDP in the 2023 general elections. Their warning went unheeded, and the party later lost at the polls.
Olayinka said the latest decision shows the PDP has been forced to “eat its own vomit.” He, however, argued that the zoning came too late, insisting that the South should be allowed to hold the presidency for a full eight years before returning it to the North in 2031.
Mixed Reactions
The development has drawn mixed reactions across the political space. Supporters say it is a much-needed correction that could revive the party’s fortunes ahead of 2027. Critics, however, question the timing, arguing it may do little to repair damage already done.
Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim warned that the zoning could further polarize Nigeria’s fragile political environment, while some PDP elders have called for unity and urged Wike and others not to inflame divisions within the party.
As the PDP looks ahead to its November convention, the zoning decision is already shaping the race for 2027, with attention now turning to potential aspirants from the South.
