PDP NEC Ratifies Damagum and Zones 2027 Ticket South as Party Prepares for November Convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a decisive step ahead of its national convention after the National Executive Committee (NEC) met in Abuja and issued a firm communique on Monday.

NEC “expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of the Party at its various Organs, Chapters and Structures for the 2025 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital on Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th November 2025,” signalling confidence in the organising machinery.

The committee also acknowledged the efforts of state governors, the Board of Trustees and the National Working Committee towards ensuring the convention’s success.

In a move likely to shape the party’s 2027 strategy, NEC approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee and instructed regions to micro-zone their positions.

Among the key decisions, NEC confirmed that “having retained the position of the National Chairman in the Northern Region of the country, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the Southern Region,” a ruling that will focus attention on southern aspirants.

NEC also made clear that national office positions will remain regionally allocated, stipulating that “all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region” and likewise for the South.

The meeting also formalised leadership after months of interim arrangements, with the NEC moving to endorse the acting chairman as the substantive leader.

NEC “hereby ratifies and confirms the appointment of Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the Party with effect from today, Monday, 25th August, 2025 until the National Convention,” giving the party a settled hand at its helm in the run-up to November.

The committee further directed the Constitution Amendment Committee to circulate its draft to organs and chapters for input, signalling internal housekeeping ahead of the convention.

NEC used the opportunity to attack the governing party for what it called anti-democratic tactics and called for vigilance against the misuse of state power.

“NEC condemns the resort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to State Capture through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians,” said the communique, also decrying the militarisation of recent by-elections.

NEC concluded by reassuring citizens of the PDP’s commitment to democracy and announced its next meeting for Wednesday, 15th October, 2025.