The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) leadership’s decision to allocate its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria has divided northern factions, with many calling the move undemocratic and at odds with the spirit of fair competition.
The party’s National Working Committee, led by Ambassador Umar Damagum, was kept in place while the National Executive Committee, in its 102nd meeting on Monday, zoned the presidential ticket to the South.
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Some northern stakeholders have cautioned about the risk of losing a sizable portion of the vote in an area known for its voting power, despite the fact that prominent northern figures in the PDP, including foundation members like former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, have been leading the charge to urge the party to look south for a candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Yerima Shettima, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, said in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday that the PDP’s choice to zone its ticket has sparked a lot of problems that need to be addressed.
“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.
Under the banner of the North Central Renaissance Movement, North Central leaders turned down the PDP’s proposal to move its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
Professor K’tso Nghargbu, the movement’s chairperson, made the case during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday that, in the interest of justice, the North Central zone should have received the presidential ticket because it is still the only one that has not produced a president or vice president under a democratic regime.
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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.
2027: PDP ticket zoning to South divides North
The Arewa Consultative Forum has joined the discussion, stating that it is premature to draw a conclusion on the zoning issue, as the PDP did during its NEC meeting.
“Things are unfolding; so it is a bit premature to take a position on the matter,” stated Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday.
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