The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South has received widespread acceptance among northern state chapters, though dissenting voices have emerged in Kano and parts of the North Central region.

Broad Support Across Northern States

Findings show that PDP leaders in Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Kogi States have largely welcomed the zoning arrangement, describing it as fair and strategic ahead of the 2027 elections.

In Jigawa, PDP Publicity Secretary Umar Kyari said the state chapter was fully aligned with the decision.
“We in Jigawa have no objections. Whatever will bring success to our party is what we support. That is the beauty of the party. It’s a national party beyond sectional or religious lines,” he stated.

Katsina PDP spokesman, Alhaji Tijjani Umar Mashasha, described the zoning as a carefully calculated political strategy.
“This will strengthen the PDP’s chances in 2027. Don’t forget, PDP introduced zoning to ensure fairness. With APC struggling under Tinubu, Nigerians are yearning for change, and we are ready to deliver,” he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by PDP spokespersons in Gombe, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Kogi, who pledged total loyalty to the party’s resolution and stressed that the move would enhance the PDP’s electoral chances.

Dissent in Kano

However, the decision has not gone down well with some Kano PDP members.

Comrade Kabiru Sani Mai Kwanuka criticized the lack of consultation, insisting the North still deserved the ticket.
“We were not carried along in this decision. This is not the consensus of all PDP members. We deserve to be heard before such resolutions are taken,” he said.

Another PDP activist in Kano, Bashir Wahada Ibrahim, argued online that only a northern presidency could address the region’s insecurity.

North Central, Youth Groups Reject Move

The North Central Renaissance Movement, at a press conference in Abuja, outrightly rejected the zoning, describing it as unfair to the zone, which has never produced a president or vice president.

Its chairperson, Professor K’tso Nghargbu, said:
“Zoning is not just about North and South; within these blocs, fairness must extend to zones that have never been given the chance. Any party that fails to zone the 2027 presidency to the North Central risks losing millions of votes.”

Similarly, a coalition of northern youth groups under the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associationsslammed the decision as “anti-democratic, unjust, and a monumental betrayal.” The group warned in Kaduna that the PDP would face political consequences if it failed to reconsider.

Analysts See Strategic Move Against Tinubu

Political analyst Dr. Kabiru Said Sufi told DAILY POST that the zoning move was a strategic counter to the ruling APC.
“PDP knows Tinubu will recontest in 2027. By fielding a southern candidate, they aim to directly challenge him in his stronghold, banking on the perception that his government has underperformed,” he explained.

However, analysts also warned of unresolved tensions within the South itself, with both the South-West and South-South quietly lobbying for the ticket, setting up possible intra-party rivalry.

The Road Ahead

While the PDP’s zoning decision has strengthened its support base in key northern states, dissent from Kano, agitation from the North Central, and potential southern rivalries pose challenges that could test the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 primaries.