The Nigerian Democratic Congress and the ruling All Progressives Congress traded words on Saturday after the NDC zoned its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections to the South, a move widely seen as a deliberate attempt to weaken incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.

The decision, reached during the NDC National Convention in Abuja, also introduced a proposed single four-year term arrangement for the party’s eventual presidential candidate, with an agreement that the ticket would automatically return to the North in 2031. The development has intensified speculation that the opposition coalition may eventually produce former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as presidential candidate and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate.

Reacting swiftly to the development, the APC dismissed the NDC’s zoning arrangement as no threat to Tinubu’s second-term ambition, insisting that the ruling party remained firmly in control of the nation’s political structure ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking with journalists at the Plateau Governors Lodge in Abuja during the screening of presidential, governorship and senatorial aspirants, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, argued that the real political battle ahead of 2027 was not between the APC and the NDC, but among opposition parties themselves.

“Never at all. Why should we be afraid? If you look at it now, the fight is not between APC and ADC or any other political party, but it is ADC versus the NDC. So now we have been vindicated when people say the APC was fighting opposition,” Yilwatda said.

“Now everybody has seen clearly that it is the opposition fighting themselves. So when you talk about us having problems or challenges, why should we be afraid? All the by-elections, the ADC has won none.”

The APC chairman maintained that opposition strength should not be measured by media appearances or public rhetoric but by electoral performance on the field.

“The major threat we have is actually the PDP. Even the PDP has not done very well in terms of performance in the election field. Performance is not on TV, not on radio, not in newspapers; it is on the field during elections,” he stated.

Yilwatda said despite the growing noise around opposition coalitions, the APC remained the party to beat because of its political spread and control across the federation.

Also reacting to the zoning arrangement, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, maintained that the APC was not threatened by the NDC coalition and zoning formula.

“The problem I have with the media is that you know the truth, yet you always want to dance around,” Uzodimma said.

“In a country of 36 states, 31 are sufficiently transparent members of the All Progressives Congress. Look at that proportion. Nigeria has already spoken.”

The governor argued that the APC’s dominance across most states of the federation already reflected public confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and the party’s political structure.

“So we’re not threatened by anybody. First of all, this party that zoned the presidential ticket to the South — where is their head office?” he queried.

Earlier at the convention, the NDC formally adopted the zoning arrangement after a motion moved by the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Afam Victor Ogene, received unanimous support from delegates drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The arrangement effectively clears the path for Obi and other southern aspirants to pursue the party’s presidential ticket, while also reserving the 2031 presidential slot for northern aspirants under the proposed one-term agreement.

Addressing delegates, NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, described the convention as the birth of a new political movement built on justice, inclusion, accountability and national development.

“Today we gather not merely to hold a convention, but to write a new chapter in the democratic history of our dear nation, Nigeria,” he said.

Cleopas noted that the registration of the NDC in February 2026 followed years of struggle, institutional delays and political resistance, adding that the party intended to provide responsible leadership and constructive opposition.

He lamented worsening economic hardship, inflation, insecurity and unemployment across the country, saying millions of Nigerians were struggling to survive.

Also speaking at the convention, former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, described the gathering as a historic turning point in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

“In me, you have a hard-boiled opposition operative,” Dickson declared to loud applause from delegates.

He said the decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the 2031 slot to the North reflected the party’s commitment to fairness, equal citizenship and national stability.

“We want a balanced and stable Nigeria. We do not want a Nigeria of divisions and grievances,” he stated.

According to him, the four-year rotational arrangement would help deepen trust among Nigeria’s diverse regions while reinforcing national cohesion.

In his keynote address, Obi described the NDC as a platform for “national liberation”, insisting Nigerians would resist every attempt to undermine democracy and credible elections.

“Today in Nigeria, we are seeing beneficiaries of democracy, beneficiaries of the judiciary and beneficiaries of good governance turn themselves into agents of destroying democracy and injustice,” Obi said.

The former presidential candidate warned against attempts to entrench one-party dominance in the country.

“We cannot have one party in Nigeria. Nigeria must have democracy. Those who think there will be no free and fair elections in 2027 should rethink because Nigerians will insist on credible elections,” he declared.

Obi also painted a grim picture of the nation’s socio-economic situation, claiming that over 140 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty while millions of youths remained unemployed or underemployed.

“Nigeria is not poor. Nigeria was looted into poverty, and we are coming to reverse that situation,” he added.

Kwankwaso, while endorsing the zoning arrangement, described it as a necessary step toward fairness, equity and national healing.

“It is therefore with great sense of unity and solidarity that as a loyal party member, I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the NDC to the South so that it allows the region to complete its turn in producing national leadership,” he stated.

The former governor also criticised the current state of governance in the country, blaming poor leadership for worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

“We are witnessing a sharp decline in the quality of life. Insecurity has created widows and orphans across the land. Millions have been displaced from their homes,” he said.

Kwankwaso expressed optimism that the NDC would emerge as a platform for national renewal, anchored on inclusive leadership devoid of ethnic and religious bias.

“This party shall also ensure to change the way things are done today by prioritising leadership without ethnic jingoism and religious favouritism,” he added.

Meanwhile, Yilwatda also dismissed speculation that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be excluded from the APC screening process ahead of the elections.

“Why are you singling one governor out of many? Three governors have not come. All of them have their reasons for not appearing, and we know they are chief executives of their states with state responsibilities,” he explained.

tribuneonlineng.com