2027: PDP may unveil zoning formula August 25

BARRING any unforeseen circumstance, the zoning formula to be adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2027 may be unveiled on August 25.

The timetable and schedule of activities lined up by the PDP, sighted by the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend, indicated that the committee on zoning set up by the party with the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri is to meet this week in Abuja, on the assignment.

The document, signed by the National Organising Secretary of the party, Honourable Umar M. Bature, showed that the programmes would run from August 24 to December 2025.

The zoning principles, enshrined in Section 7(2) (c) of the party’s constitution, states: “In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices.”

The party is said to have sent copies of the programme to key stakeholders of the PDP of activities that will culminated into the national convention from November 15 to 16 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The major events will commence on August 24, with separate meetings by the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Caucus of the PDP.

Specifically, the NWC will deliberate on issues for the agenda of the 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party scheduled for August 25.

The document showed that the meeting will focus on the review and adoption of the resolution of the Diri-led zoning committee.

Other main activities underlined by the documents include the conduct of party primaries to pick candidates for elections, congresses at Ward, local, state and zonal levels to constitute executives.

to be supervised by the state and national executive committees of the PDP.

According to sources, members of the Diri committee are to meet on Thursday (August 14) in Abuja to propose the zoning formula to be presented to the NEC for ratification and adoption.

The move will give a definite position of the party on whether the race for the presidential ticket of the party should be thrown open or ceded to the southern part of the country based on the demand of certain individuals and leaders of the PDP.

This is also coming amid speculations about a possible return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the race, as well as the touted bid by the governors of Oyo and Bauchi states to throw their hats into the ring.

Similarly, a former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, is poised to contest under the platform of the PDP.

A former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, recently advocated the zoning of the 2027 presidential ticket to the PDP to South “to promote justice, fairness and equity.”

The PDP often alternates positions in the NWC between North and South every four years and the national chairmanship of the party currently resides in the North, but it was micro-zoned to the North Central.

Whereas the post of the national secretary is zoned to the South, it was micro-zoned to the South East.

Other positions zoned to the North include deputy national chairman (North); national organising secretary, national treasurer, national youth leader and national legal adviser.

The offices allocated to the South comprised deputy national chairman (South), deputy national secretary, national publicity secretary, national financial secretary, national auditor and national woman leader.  

A former national Vice chairman, Chief Eddy Olufeso, who spoke on the ongoing frantic efforts by the PDP to reposition itself, told the Nigerian Tribune that the party was working hard to regain its prime position in the nation’s political space.

“We are preparing well. We are working hard to salvage the country from dire straits by articulating the challenges facing the country and ensuring that we proffer solutions to them. We are determined and our underdog status will enable us enough time to think about these things and we will be able to partnership with the Nigerian people better than we have done in the past,” he said.

“Our party is rooted in history so we know where and when to go at any point in time. We are very well committed.”

On the issue of whether PDP presidential candidate should come from the North or South, Olafeso said: “If the presidency comes from the South, definitely the national chairman will not come from the South.  Asked if the acting national chairman, Umar Ilya Damagum, should seek to become a substantive chairman, he declared: “He has the right to contest. But the world can decide. The PDP is the people’s party and not a one-man party.”

Source: Tribune