*Confirms Damagum as substansive National Chairman until December
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has zoned its presidential slot to the southern part of the country.
The position of the National Chairmanship of the party is to remain in the North.
These were part of the outcome of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held at it’s national headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja on Monday.
The NEC meeting has also confirmed Amb Ilya Damagum as the PDP substansive National Chairman pending when new National Working Committee (NWC) members will be elected at the party’s national convention slated for November 15 and 16, this year in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Damagum was immediately sworn-in at the venue of the meeting.
In a communique issued at the end of the well attended NEC meeting and read by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, the PDP resolved that all its National office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country should remain in the Northern Region.
The meeting also agreed that all PDP National office positions currently in the Southern region of the country should remain in the region.
The NEC meeting resolved further that the two regions should immediately micro-zone positions within its region for implementation.
According to the communique, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 102nd meeting today, (yesterday), Monday, 25th August, 2025 further deliberated on the state of the Party and resolved as follows:
*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.
*NEC acknowledged with satisfaction the efforts and commitment of PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Assembly Caucus and other relevant bodies of the Party towards the success of the forthcoming 2025 National Convention at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
*NEC received and after extensive deliberation approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee which recommended as follows:
*That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region.
*That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region.
*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.
*That the Regions should immediately micro-zone positions within their Regions for implementation.
*NEC also received update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee and directed the committee to circulate the Draft Constitution Amendment to various Organs and Chapters of the Party for further inputs.
*In recognition of the efforts of the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum in stabilizing the Party, 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 holding at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital on 15th to 16th November, 2025.
*NEC condemns the resort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to State Capture through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians as witnessed in APC’s muzzling of the recent bye-elections in parts of the country.
*NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the militarization of the recent bye-elections especially in Kaduna and Taraba States as well as Zamfara State where excessive security agencies were deployed in the conduct of run-off election in only five Polling Units in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency.
*NEC declares that this action by the APC is a confirmation of APC’s desire to turn our country into a totalitarian One-Party State which is a clear and present danger to democracy and the corporate existence of our country.
*NEC reassures Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to Democracy and the defense of the interest and wellbeing of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our Party to regain power in 2027.
*NEC adjourned and fixed its next (103rd) meeting to hold on Wednesday, 15th October, 2025.
With this development, political analysts believe that Engr Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor, former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and erstwhile presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, among others, may indicate interest in the party’s presidential ticket.
The Governors of Bauchi, Oyo, Osun, Bayelsa, Zamfara and Adamawa States were in attendance at the NEC meeting.
