“PDP’s Zoning Is a Ploy to Woo Obi, Jonathan, Amaechi” – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, describing the move as a calculated strategy to court Peter Obi, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and former Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the remarks on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, August 26. He argued that both the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are more focused on political gamesmanship than addressing Nigeria’s urgent socio-economic challenges.

“Why are we so preoccupied and behaving in such a way that Nigerians begin to look at the political elite as if we don’t care about them?” Abdullahi asked, criticizing the early zoning announcement as insensitive, given that the election is still two years away.

The PDP recently confirmed that its 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South while the national chairmanship stays in the North. On its part, the APC has already lined up behind President Bola Tinubu for re-election, invoking Nigeria’s informal North-South power-sharing arrangement.

Abdullahi dismissed both decisions as political maneuvering.

“They know the implications of showing their hand too early. It is either a predetermined game or an attempt to bait certain politicians to join them,” he said.

The ADC spokesperson stressed that his party is not built around any single aspirant, noting that Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and others would have equal chances if they seek the party’s ticket. He added that the ADC has not taken a position on zoning, choosing instead to prioritize grassroots mobilisation and strengthening its structures nationwide.

“We are not pressured by PDP’s move. Nigerians can see right through it,” Abdullahi said. “Our focus is on building a viable alternative, not playing their game.”