NEC Confirms Damagum as Substantive Chairman Ahead of November Convention
By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday took a decisive step towards the 2027 general elections, zoning its presidential ticket to the South while retaining the national chairmanship position in the North.
The decision, reached at a high-level meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja on August 25, 2025, was described by party leaders as a move to ensure “equity, inclusiveness, and national balance” within the opposition camp.
At the same meeting, the NEC confirmed Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the PDP, ending months of speculation over his status after serving in acting capacity since March 2023. Damagum will oversee the affairs of the party until its much-anticipated national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Party insiders disclosed that the zoning arrangement followed weeks of consultations with governors, lawmakers, and influential stakeholders across Nigeria. A senior NEC member told journalists:
“This arrangement is to guarantee fairness and stability in our party. Zoning the presidency to the South reflects our commitment to national unity, while keeping the chairmanship in the North ensures balance. The PDP has always been a party of inclusion.”
The decision comes amid growing agitation in the South for power rotation, particularly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) produced President Bola Tinubu from the region in 2023. Analysts say the PDP’s move is a calculated strategy to broaden its electoral appeal in southern states while consolidating northern structures through the chairmanship.
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With Damagum’s confirmation, the PDP is expected to intensify preparations for its convention in Ibadan, where other party leadership positions will be ratified. The convention will also mark the official take-off of its roadmap towards 2027, with prominent southern politicians already being speculated as potential presidential contenders.
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Political observers believe the zoning resolution sets the stage for intense political maneuvering in the months ahead, as the PDP seeks to reclaim power at the federal level after nearly a decade in opposition.
