• Olawepo-Hashim condemns move; party holds convention Nov 15 in Ibadan
• ‘Promoters of South PDP ticket running proxy campaign for Tinubu’
• PDP govs defend Zamfara meeting, fault ADC over ‘politicising human lives’
• Lamido warns against shielding Wike from party discipline
• APC tackles PDP govs over poor performance, defends Tinubu’s policies

In a move that could prove either a masterstroke or a miscalculation, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday threw down the gauntlet to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the South — the same region that produced the incumbent.

The party also retained its national chairmanship in the North, in what leaders described as a strategy to strengthen internal balance and reposition the opposition ahead of the next general elections.

The decision formed part of the far-reaching resolutions adopted at the end of the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, held yesterday in Abuja.

The meeting confirmed Iliya Umar Damagum, who has served in an acting capacity since 2023, as the substantive national chairman until the party’s national elective convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to a communiqué issued by National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the NEC unanimously adopted the report of its zoning committee, which retained all national offices in their current regions, while expressly zoning the presidency to the South. The party also directed each region to commence micro-zoning of positions ahead of the Ibadan convention.

The NEC received updates from the Constitution Amendment Committee and directed that draft proposals be circulated to state chapters and party organs for wider consultation.

On the political climate, the party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “state capture,” citing alleged intimidation and militarisation during recent by-elections in Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara States. It warned that such practices were dangerous for democracy, describing them as an attempt to foist a one-party state on the nation.

Earlier at a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting that preceded the NEC session, Chairman Adolphus Wabara, represented by Secretary Ahmed Makarfi, urged members to embrace unity, sacrifice and reconciliation. He stressed that “no political family thrives on endless exclusion” and urged the party to extend a hand of reconciliation to estranged members.

In his address, Damagum called for cohesion within the PDP, warning against factional distractions at what he described as “a critical moment in the life of the nation.” He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to gender inclusion, citing its support for the affirmative action bill before the National Assembly.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who chaired the zoning committee, explained that the decision to zone the presidency to the South followed extensive consultations with governors, former governors, ministers, and other stakeholders. He stated that the move was in line with the PDP constitution and consistent with its tradition of rotational leadership.

In its closing resolutions, the NEC reassured Nigerians of its readiness to “reclaim power in 2027,” pledging to defend democracy, protect citizens’ welfare and present itself as a credible alternative to what it described as the APC’s “misrule.”

The NEC fixed its next meeting for October 15, 2025, as preparations intensify for the Ibadan convention.

MEANWHILE, former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, yesterday criticised the Peoples Democratic Party over its decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South. He alleged that some of those championing the arrangement are simultaneously running a default campaign for President Bola Tinubu.

Olawepo-Hashim’s reaction appeared to have been triggered by his exclusion from the race, as he hails from the North Central.

Before the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where the decision was taken, thousands of his supporters thronged the venue, urging him to declare his interest in the 2027 presidential contest.

The jubilant crowd, clad in colourful vests and face caps, carried bold banners and sang solidarity songs in his support, describing the businessman and politician as “a credible alternative and a unifier the nation urgently needs at this critical time.”

The rally was coordinated by three major support groups: the Hashim Unity Group, led by Musa Makanda, former Speaker of Bwari Area Council; The Hashims, led by Mr. Sunday Tsado; and Hashim Advocates, led by Mallam Abba, a former PDP youth leader in the FCT in 1999.

Speaking at the gathering, the group leaders said Dr Hashim embodies the finest qualities of leadership consistent with the PDP’s vision — integrity, inclusiveness, and a strong record of advocacy for democracy and good governance. They urged the party leadership to emulate his political conduct and consider him as its standard-bearer for the 2027 elections.

In a related development, PDP youth leaders from the 36 states of the federation last week formally welcomed Dr Hashim into the party. They also called on other party chieftains to emulate his example, particularly his support for young people, as the PDP positions itself for the next general elections.

Speaking later on Channels Television, Olawepo-Hashim recalled that former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was once adopted by five political parties but never became president.

He dismissed the stance of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on the zoning debate, saying the minister might have his way for now, but that the PDP has internal mechanisms to correct itself.

Olawepo-Hashim also lambasted the APC administration, describing it as the worst in Nigeria’s history in terms of economic management.

2027: Atiku’s chase for ADC ticket leaves Obi scouting for platform
In what came as a subtle balance of tactics, leaders of the two major opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the coalition platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), yesterday, made contrasting pronouncements regarding the 2027 presidential tickets of their parties.

The PDP’s decision came barely 24 hours after its presidential flagbearer in the 2023 contest, Atiku Abubakar, who switched allegiance to the burgeoning ADC, announced his decision to participate yet again in the 2027 presidential poll.

Atiku, while dismissing claims that he was not prepared to contest the 2027 presidential poll, declared that Nigeria needs an experienced hand to pilot its affairs and rescue the country from the intensive care unit.

Speaking through Prof. Tunde Olasunle, the former Vice President denied ever authorising the assertion that he may pull out of the race, stressing: “I did not issue that statement; when people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the instant subject and what my contribution or intervention will be, so we are on the same page.

“I will run in 2027… The accompanying deceit, loss of values, the mega-scale, unimpeded thievery, the absolute lack of accountability, must disturb every concerned patriot; I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland.”

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, had in June declared his intention to contest the presidential election, denying insinuations that there was a plan to pair him up with Atiku as a possible running mate to defeat the incumbent President Tinubu.

While Atiku and Obi’s posturing for the ADC’s presidential ticket was agitated by Atiku’s renewed interest in the contest, the PDP announced the zoning of its presidential slot to the South, as well as retaining the national chairmanship in the North, in a bid “to strengthen internal balance and reposition the opposition party ahead of the next general election.”

Lamido warns against shielding Wike from PDP discipline
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has raised concerns over alleged moves by powerful interests to shield the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his loyalists from disciplinary action within the Peoples Democratic Party. He warned that such desperation could endanger Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

In a statement on his verified Facebook page, Lamido alleged that some state party chairmen were summoned by “lords of Nigeria” and instructed to resist any attempt to sanction Wike and his camp.

He described the move as a calculated plot to hasten the collapse of the PDP, which, he cautioned, could destabilise Nigeria’s democratic order. “This desperation to hasten the collapse of the PDP will inevitably hasten the collapse of our nascent democracy, with dire consequences,” he said.

Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, urged political actors across party lines, “Let us all unite and save democracy—the APC government and all the opposition parties alike!” he appealed.

His intervention comes amid widening cracks within the PDP, with Wike and his allies frequently at the centre of disputes over party discipline, loyalty, and alleged alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress.

PDP govs defend Zamfara meeting, fault ADC over ‘politicising human lives’
THIS came as the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum defended its recent meeting in Zamfara State, dismissing criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and accusing it of politicising human lives instead of showing empathy to victims of insecurity.

In a statement yesterday, the Director-General of the forum, Emmanuel Agbo, stated that the PDP has grown stronger and more focused since some members defected to the ADC, emphasising that the Zamfara meeting was part of a scheduled programme and not an act of insensitivity.

Just days after deadly attacks claimed several lives in Zamfara, PDP governors met in Gusau between Friday and Saturday.

The ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the move, accusing the PDP of lacking empathy. It also urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state.

ADC said: “We condemn the decision of PDP governors to hold their political meeting in Zamfara on Saturday, only a few days after scores of innocent citizens were slaughtered in that same state. Instead of rallying around their colleague to help stop the killings, they staged a political rally at the scene of mass murder.

The photos of PDP governors in full ceremonial robes, grinning for the camera, are totally out of place in an environment that still reeks of blood and sorrow.”

Responding, the PDP Governors’ Forum described the ADC’s remarks as “irresponsible,” arguing that the meeting addressed insecurity and national challenges, and issued a communiqué reflecting those concerns.

“The Zamfara meeting was scheduled and not spur-of-the-moment. ADC should have empathised with the victims rather than playing to the gallery. The forum commended Zamfara State’s efforts to curb insecurity but condemned continued killings in Katsina, Plateau, Niger, Benue and other states, calling on the federal government to be more responsive,” the forum said.

It added that since the ADC’s exit, “the PDP has become much more formidable, focused and determined,” while accusing the ADC of previously being “a huge clog to the wheel of national unity and harmony.”

ALSO, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, confirmed during the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja that all necessary communications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the November convention had been duly signed by the National Working Committee.

“Today, I would say that all communication to INEC has been signed by our National Working Committee. We are navigating well and working to ensure that the party remains united,” he said.

Mohammed also explained the absence of some governors from the Abuja meeting, noting that Enugu’s Peter Mbah was at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference, Taraba’s Kefas Agbu was handling urgent administrative duties, and Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang joined a federal delegation to Brazil. “Their absence does not indicate defection; they remain fully committed to the party,” he clarified.

The Bauchi governor further cautioned against alleged attempts by external forces to infiltrate PDP structures at the state level, urging unity in the face of what he called efforts to destabilise the party.

APC tackles PDP govs over poor performance, defends Tinubu’s policies
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of failing to fulfil their obligations to their citizens, despite receiving what it described as unprecedented statutory allocations from the federal government.

In a statement yesterday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said PDP governors remain some of the biggest beneficiaries of President Bola Tinubu’s “outstanding economic policy innovations,” which he claimed are revamping the economy for sustained growth.

Morka alleged that federal revenue allocation to state governments has more than doubled under Tinubu, with over N2 trillion shared among the 36 states as of July 2025 — the highest in Nigeria’s history. He argued that PDP governors have little or nothing to show for the resources at their disposal.

APC dismissed PDP governors’ recent criticism of Tinubu’s administration at a meeting in Zamfara State, where they urged Nigerians to reject the ruling party in 2027. The APC described the opposition party as “in deep comatose, crippled by intractable crises, and reduced to a shadow of its old self.”

The statement read: “It is morbidly comical for the governors of the PDP to make statements that only describe their own doomed fate, now and in the lead up to 2027. Nigerians know the party that is working assiduously for renewed hope and national renewal. They will not be hoodwinked by opposition parties that cannot manage their own internal affairs or drive progress in their small states.”

The APC said Nigeria would not return to what it called “the dark era” of PDP’s federal rule, when many states were bankrupt and unable to pay salaries. It added that Tinubu has “paved a new and clear path of prosperity” and urged Nigerians to “ignore empty and misleading rhetoric of detractors” while standing firm with the president and the ruling party.

It further insisted that the PDP has offered no credible alternatives in the last three election cycles, accusing its governors of wasting time on “frivolous and senseless allegations” instead of rebuilding their party.

ADC insists on growing acceptance, accuses EFCC of targeting coalition
As the 2027 general elections approach, the African Democratic Congress has declared that it has gained widespread acceptance across the country, positioning itself as the most viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The party, however, accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of being used to intimidate and silence its key leaders, warning that such actions pose a threat to democratic rule.

The ADC raised concerns following the arrest of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, who is now a serving senator and an active member of the coalition, over alleged financial impropriety.

The party also alleged that the EFCC was plotting to probe the two tenures of its National Chairman, David Mark, during his time as Senate President, as well as to investigate former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, told The Guardian that Nigerians have embraced the party as the only credible alternative to the APC. He dismissed claims that fear of EFCC clampdown had slowed the party’s momentum.

“Like we noted in our press statement regarding the matter, EFCC appears willing to lend itself to use as a tool of intimidation by the ruling party against coalition leaders in the name of fighting corruption,” he said.

“So far, we are happy with the progress made across the country. The party has been received with great enthusiasm as the only viable alternative to the ruling party. The work continues, there is still a lot of ground to cover, but we are pleased with progress, especially at the grassroots,” Abdullahi added.

Contest of schemes, implications for opposition
Speaking on the wider implications of the contest of schemes between the PDP and ADC, Senator Emmanuel Onwe said Atiku’s declaration and insistence on the priority of personal ambition over and above national priorities is both unsurprising and disappointing.

He stated: “To say this about a man I respect deeply and consider his politics in alliance with mine is a great deal for me. When Atiku ran for the PDP primary against President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, I was the only sitting Senator from the South East who voted for him, because a number of issues of national transcendence were on the table and I was fully confident that he was better prepared than Jonathan to competently and courageously deal with them.

“But not anymore, the country and Atiku have moved on and today we have different priorities which I do not think for one moment that at 78 years today and 81 by the time he takes the presidency in 2027, Atiku is the man to tackle these precedent and emergency national challenges.

“This effort to convert a community interest into a personal one is totally unacceptable. It has not led Nigeria into a good place over the last 64 years. Secondly, the configuration of the ADC, its leadership, both ad hoc and substantive, is obviously set up as Atiku’s platform.”

Onwe, who served the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in the 7th plenary on the PDP platform, expressed reservations about Atiku’s seriousness, saying, “Think about those who could potentially become vice presidential candidate for a 78-year-old man who would be 85 in his second term and 89 at the termination of his presidency, and you will understand the dark art of realpolitik and the centrality of ambition in that five-dimensional chess game.”

The former lawmaker said Peter Obi is placed in a deep political quandary right now, remarking, “If he runs as a vice presidential candidate under anyone from the North or South, the ticket would lose not just for logical political reasons of which there are many, but the ticket would come under the fiercest emotional heat from both the so-called Obidients and the southern electorate as a whole.

“If anyone underestimates this factor, then they’re not reading the dangerous mood of Nigerians with care and attention. Senator Datti’s clever manoeuvres in recent times are beginning not just to make sense, but to reveal his sharp and thoughtful political mind.”

While noting that the former LP contender singularly remains the most formidable political counterweight to the enormous powers of an incumbent presidential candidate, Onwe observed that Obi still generates an unprecedented level of enthusiasm and hope across the length and breadth of the country.

His words: “But there are fundamental ingredients needed to mount a second oppositional presidential bid which stand in contrast to the magic and euphoria of a first time by a very popular candidate.

“Put it this way, if President Barack Obama had failed in his first attempt, what do you think would have happened in a repeat attempt? This is the sort of hypotheticals that rational and intellectually agile political players in the Obidient movement should be reflecting upon right now.

“Every electrifying political figure who ran multiple times for the same position only ever won once momentous changes occur in their movement. President Muhammadu Buhari is the most obvious and relevant domestic example and the clearest change in his movement was the storm called Jagaban.”

He maintained that events are developing in such a way as to prove to Nigerians that without Tinubu’s sagacity in 2014, Nigerians would have waited for half a century to witness the defeat of an incumbent president by a coalition of opposition elements.

“By foregoing the vice presidential slot in favour of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in 2014, he showed not only his political genius but acted to suppress the most exigent political impulse — ambition. Where Tinubu showed a masterclass in political realism, I’m afraid Atiku, like Caesar, is blinded by his own radiance,” the Senator surmised.

Observers had posited that the clash of presidential aspirations by the two former presidential contenders would lead to the collapse of the coalition of opposition leaders on the ADC platform, even as supporters of the LP leader insist on ‘No Obi, no ADC.’

Also, when contacted on the perception that Atiku’s declaration confirms speculations that the ADC platform may have been tactically designed for the former Vice President to contest in 2027, spokesman of the Obi-Datti Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, told *The Guardian* that Obi remains the only candidate that the movement is presenting to Nigerians in 2027 as a solution to the country’s problems.

“That is basic and there is no compromise about it. Wherever Obi is going, there we are heading. Nigeria needs a fresh beginning,” he said.

Recently, Obi himself told journalists that whether it is him or any other candidate, what the opposition must understand is that they need to rally behind a single candidate if they hope to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He had stated: “If parties such as the PDP, ADC, SDP, LP and others field different candidates in 2027, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to defeat the incumbent president.”

However, dispelling apprehensions that the ADC was programmed for a pre-ordained candidate, immediate past National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the ongoing declarations and political posturing of presidential aspirants across major parties.

Nwosu insisted that the ADC is quietly building a credible alternative platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He disclosed that the party is currently designing modalities that would guarantee transparent and competitive primaries, stressing that there is already an understanding among all presidential aspirants within the party to support whoever eventually emerges as candidate.

According to him, “We have many people aspiring to contest for the presidency in 2027 under the ADC platform. By the time Nigerians see what we are putting together, it will be a surprise. Unlike what is happening in the dominant parties, our aspirants are committed to backing the outcome of a transparent process.”

He further disclosed that discussions are ongoing with several prominent politicians across party lines, including some former governors, ministers, and presidential hopefuls, who are being persuaded to join the ADC fold.

“What we have in stock is not just about Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar. There are personalities like former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom many of our stakeholders are trying to woo into ADC, as well as Emeka Nwajiuba, Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi, Kashim Imam, and others. There are also other individuals still working underground with us. They are strong and influential stakeholders who believe in our project,” Nwosu said.

He insisted that what is certain is that the ADC will present a candidate with national appeal, one who would be accepted across Nigeria’s regions.