The decision by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria has pitted various northern groups in different camps, with many describing the development as undemocratic and contrary to the spirit of fair competition.

The National Executive Committee of the party, at its 102nd meeting on Monday, zoned the presidential ticket to the South, while retaining the current National Working Committee headed by Ambassador Umar Damagum.

Although, prominent northern figures in the PDP, including foundation members like former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana have been in the forefront urging the party to go south in its search of a candidate to vie against President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; some northern stakeholders have warned of the danger of losing significant votes in a region known for its voting strength.

The National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, on tuesday stated that the PDP’s decision to zone its ticket has raised many questions that require answers.

“By preemptively zoning the presidential ticket to the South, the PDP appears to be constraining fundamental rights, effectively sidelining potential candidates from the North who may possess the requisite qualifications and vision to lead the country. This decision not only diminishes the political strength of Northern voters but also risks alienating a significant portion of the electorate who may feel that their choices are being dictated by party machinations rather than genuine democratic processes.” This, he said, may give President Tinubu an easy ride against his potential opponents.

“As the APC prepares to nominate President Tinubu for re-election, the implications of the PDP’s zoning decision become even more pronounced. Tinubu, a seasoned politician with considerable influence and a well-established political network, is likely to leverage his incumbency and the support of the APC to solidify his position. In this context, the North may find itself in a unique position, one that could lead to a strategic consensus in favour of Tinubu rather than the PDP.

“The northern political landscape is characterised by a complex interplay of ethnic, religious, and regional interests. Historically, Northern leaders have often prioritised unity and consensus-building as a means of navigating Nigeria’s diverse political terrain. However, the PDP’s decision to zone the presidential ticket to the South could inadvertently galvanise northern political actors to consolidate their support around Tinubu.

“The North, recognising the potential risks of a divided political front, may opt to rally behind the incumbent, particularly if they perceive that the PDP’s choice is exclusionary and undermines their representation.

“The North’s support for Tinubu could be further reinforced by the perception that the PDP’s zoning strategy is not only politically motivated but also detrimental to the principles of democracy. In this light, Northern leaders may view their alignment with the APC as a means of safeguarding democratic ideals by promoting a candidate who, despite his Southern roots, has demonstrated an understanding of the complexities of Nigerian governance and has the potential to address the diverse needs of the nation,” he added.

Groups reject move

Leaders from the North Central zone, under the platform of the North Central Renaissance Movement, rejected the PDP’s zoning of its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the chairperson of the movement, Professor K’tso Nghargbu, argued that in the spirit of fairness, the presidential ticket should have been zoned to the North Central, as it remains the only zone yet to produce either a President or Vice President in a democratic dispensation.

He said, “As leaders of the North Central, we reject the PDP decision that zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

“Some have taken to armed struggle and branded themselves as freedom fighters. But in the North Central, the nationalist movement has never gone down that path and will never descend so low as to inflict harm, injury, or pain on the Nigerian state. Ours will always remain an intellectual struggle.

“Yet, despite numerous appeals, especially to our major political parties, to recognise a zone that has been consistently shortchanged politically, the only zone since independence that has never produced a civilian President or Vice President, the neglect continues. As we speak, political parties in Nigeria still take us for granted, undermining and despising our demands, even when they are peaceful, even when these are backed by facts.

He noted that despite the region’s abundant human and natural resources, Nigeria’s major political parties continued to sideline the zone.

He added, “Zoning is not just about North and South; within these blocs, fairness must extend to zones that have never been given the chance. And this is why we insist that any political party that fails to zone the 2027 presidency to the North, and more importantly to the North Central, risks losing millions of votes from our people.

“Our people, especially the younger generation, are tired of recycled and uninspiring leaders. They want fresh leadership rooted in fairness and inclusion. This is why our agitation goes beyond the simple North–South dichotomy. We are demanding equity within the Nigerian federation. It is not too much to ask that the North Central, a zone with solid credentials and undeniable contributions, be given the chance to prove itself in civilian leadership.”

Also, a coalition of northern youth groups under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations described the move as “anti-democratic, unjust, and a monumental betrayal” of the region.

The group, at a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna, warned the opposition party of grave political consequences if it failed to reverse the zoning arrangement.

Speaking at the briefing, JACON’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Sani Yaya, said, “The Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations has received with utter shock and profound dismay the anti-democratic and unjust decision by the PDP to zone its presidential candidacy for the 2027 elections exclusively to the Southern part of Nigeria.

“This decision is not only a grave affront to the principles of fairness and justice but also a monumental betrayal of the massive and unwavering support the North has given the PDP since the inception of the Fourth Republic. It is a reckless move that negates the very spirit of national unity and rotational equity, which the party claims to uphold.”

Similarly, political analysts believe the zoning debate could deepen internal cracks within the opposition party, especially as it struggles to rebuild following its defeat in the 2015 general elections.

A Kaduna-based analyst, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed, told The PUNCH that JACON’s position reflects a growing discontent among northern stakeholders who feel marginalised by the PDP.

“The North has always been a critical voting bloc for the PDP. If the party insists on zoning the ticket to the South, it risks losing its strongest electoral base,” he said. “But at the same time, the PDP leadership may argue that national unity requires a balance of power rotation.”

On its part, the Coalition of Northern Groups said the zoning was a deliberate attempt to shortchange the North of its democratic right.

CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, said “Even though it is a party affair and it is left for the party to decide, the reality is that it should be an open contest whereby every Nigerian has the right to contest for any seat in this country. I see no reason why the North should be exempted.

“In politics, it should be an open contest. When you zone both the National Chairman and the presidency to one region, it becomes a problem. The tradition has been that when the chairman comes from the North, the president emerges from the South, and vice versa. But restricting it this way will shortchange those with capacity, integrity and passion for the country,” he added.

CNG’s Chairman, Mohammed Deba, however, noted that political parties are at liberty to make their choices. “We believe all the parties should be free and fair to all. It’s a strategy for them (the PDP), having tried the north in 2023.”

ACF wades in

Joining the conversation, the Arewa Consultative Forum has said it is too early to conclude the issue of zoning as done by the PDP in its NEC meeting.

The Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, while speaking in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, said, “Things are unfolding; so it is a bit premature to take a position on the matter.

“At any rate, it is a bit premature to make calculations or reach conclusions on the matter since the necessary processes leading to the 2027 elections are yet to officially commence.

“As it is, the permutations for the 2027 elections are within the internal business of political parties. As it is known, the ACF does not take a stand on purely partisan political matters,” he said.

Also speaking, former ACF’s Secretary General, Anthony Sani, said it was the politics of zoning that “Made it possible for Bola Tinubu to prevail over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the North in 2023, stressing that “It is perhaps that consideration that has informed the decision by PDP to zone its presidency to the South for 2027.”

Sani added, “If the presidency will be in the North in 2031, it means the North will vote for President Tinubu, who cannot be president beyond 2031. The North is therefore not left in the cold by waiting for its turn in 2031.”

Saraki, Dingyadi differ

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, threw his weight behind the move to have the South fly the PDP presidential flag in 2027.

Speaking through his Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the ex-Kwara State governor said, “As head of the party’s panel, Saraki played a major role in bringing back the peace and unity in the party today.

“Following Buhari’s eight years, it’s obvious that the South should also be given eight years. The party had also given the ticket to the North in 2019 and 2023, so it’s fair that it should go to the South (in 2027).

“If the party’s zoning committee, headed by Bayelsa State Governor (Duoye Diri), recommended that NWC positions occupied by northerners should remain as it is, while those occupied by southerners should also remain in the South, it means that the right thing to do is to zone the ticket to the South since the party chairman is automatically from the North.”

According to him, the position taken by the PDP would make it easier for members and those with the intent to join the party to know where they stand.

“With this, PDP is even more stable than the APC now. Go to Delta and Akwa Ibom States. Ask their governors who defected to the APC how comfortable they are now. APC is telling them, ‘You can’t just come and take the party ticket.’”

But another PDP chieftain, Yusuf Dingyadi, strongly criticised the party’s decision to zone the ticket to the South, warning that the move could weaken the PDP’s chances and alienate its northern supporters.

Dingyadi, who spoke to The PUNCH in Sokoto, described the resolution of the party’s NEC as “unfortunate” and ill-timed, saying the party should have focused on rebuilding unity and strengthening internal cohesion before taking a position on zoning.

“The PDP could have skipped the issue of political struggle and instead concentrated on unity, cohesion, and building a stronger platform before talking about positions. Rushing to zone out the presidency is uncalled for, ill-advised, and lacking wisdom,” Dingyadi said.

Dingyadi warned that the zoning decision may push many northern supporters to look for an alternative platform to pursue their political aspirations ahead of the 2027 elections.

He lamented that the PDP had veered off the vision of its founding fathers, saying the party had turned into “a commodity for the highest bidders.”

“The leadership of the party has become too weak to the point that governors dictate its future. The (Nyesom) Wike group, in particular, has been given too much power to decide the fate of the PDP before 2027,” he alleged.

MBF backs South

Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum came out in defence of the PDP’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

In an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Tuesday, the National President of the Forum,  Dr Bitrus Pogu, said the PDP’s decision is fair and in line with the party’s zoning system.

“The PDP is just following its own laid down procedure agreed by its members who are also Northerners since 1999 that the presidency will rotate between the North and the South. So, all they have done is to keep to that agreement which they have in their party.

“Every party has its zoning system. PDP got it wrong in 2023, and at that time, going by their zoning formula, it should have gone to the South.

“The PDP’s interest, at the moment, lies in their ability to secure government and unite their people, especially the G-5 Governors who revolted in 2023. So, it is only proper and wise for them to zone the presidency to the South at this time, being part of their tradition and practice since 1999 when they formed government.”

In its contribution, the Niger State chapter of the party has said that the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the party to the south is acceptable to the north.