2027 Presidency: NDC’s one-term zoning to South sparks praise, knock

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, John Alechenu & Luminous Jannamike

THE Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South and return it to the North in 2031, is drawing mixed reactions from stakeholders across the country.

Read Also: Fuss over consensus in South-South 

The development comes on the heels of recent defection of former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso, from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to the NDC.

Both politicians are being tipped for the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets in what supporters believe could pose a formidable challenge to President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 election.

Among those who reacted to the zoning arrangement were the founding National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie; former Presidential Adviser, Mr Akin Osuntokun; Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF; former presidential Candidate, Chief Peter Ameh; PDP National Auditor, Chief Okechukwu Osuoha; and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN.

It’s a masterstroke — Okorie

The founding National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie, described the decision of the NDC to zone its presidential ticket to the South for one term, with a return to the North in 2031, as a masterstroke.

He expressed confidence in the party’s chances of causing an upset in the 2027 presidential election if it goes further to present Peter Obi as candidate and Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.

Okorie said this in a telephone interview with Vanguard in Abuja. He was responding to questions about the viability of the NDC’s political strategy following its zoning arrangement unveiled during the just-concluded national convention.

According to him: “The NDC zoning the presidency is the right thing to do. It is a strategy capable of winning the party the big prize. This will, however, depend on whether the party can go the whole nine yards by presenting an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket.

“This whole thing started when the two political heavyweights, in their own right, decided to leave the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to join the NDC. If you noticed, the seemingly unending court cases in the ADC have stopped.

“The Presidency, which many believe had a hand in the party’s travails, has suddenly become quiet because their target in the ADC was Obi.

“Now, there is no national party in Nigeria that was prepared to give an Igbo man its presidential ticket because even the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, is skewed in a way to deny an Igbo man a fair chance to compete for the presidency.

“Why do I say so? Nigeria was carved into 774 Local Government Areas by the military. The North West alone has 188 LGAs; the South East has 95 LGAs.

“The Constitution provides that for the national convention of a party, delegates will be selected on the basis of equality of states. And in a country where ethnicity and religion play a decisive role, what do you expect?”

Okorie further explained that Obi, with his nationwide popularity, combined with Kwankwaso’s northern influence, support base, and strategic thinking, would make the sky their starting point, because Kwankwaso would be in a better position to contest for the presidency come 2031 when power, based on the unwritten arrangement, will naturally go back to the North.

Atiku’s entry may threaten Obi’s chances — Osuntokun

Also speaking, former Presidential Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr Akin Osuntokun, said although the arrangement may not automatically guarantee victory for the NDC, it would promote national integration and strengthen Nigeria’s political development.

He, however, warned that the possible entry of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar into the race could weaken the chances of an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket.

He said: “I do not know whether it will guarantee victory for them, but it is good for national integration and the political development of Nigeria because Rabiu Kwankwaso is a political heavyweight in the North.

“The big elephant in the room is the ultimate decision of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has positioned himself as the candidate of the North. “The utility of Kwankwaso on the joint ticket lies in his presumed capacity to mobilise northern support for Obi and himself. The North cannot support both Atiku and Kwankwaso at the same time.

“If Atiku eventually emerges as the northern candidate, it diminishes the utility of Kwankwaso and significantly weakens the chances of an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket winning the election.”

It’s political scam — Keyamo

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, dismissed the NDC’s zoning arrangement as a political gimmick aimed at deceiving Nigerians.

Speaking with Vanguard on Sunday, Keyamo described the move as “political 419” and questioned its credibility.

He said: “The decision of the NDC is an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians. It is nothing but political 419.

“What happens if Peter Obi changes party after winning? Or if, as leader of the NDC, he gets the NEC to reverse the decision? This is a joke taken too far.”

Keyamo argued that the arrangement lacked enforceability since it could be reversed at any time by the party leadership.

It’s commendable — Ameh

A chieftain of the NDC and former Labour Party member, Chief Peter Ameh, commended the party leadership for zoning the presidential ticket to the South.

In an interview with Vanguard, Ameh described the decision as realistic and consistent with Nigeria’s political realities.

He said: “The NDC has done the right thing by zoning the 2027 ticket to the South. This aligns with the political mood of the nation. It remains the South’s turn until 2031, when power should return to the North.

“What remains now is for party leaders and members to build on this by electing Peter Obi as our flag bearer.”

On the issue of a running mate, Ameh said it was premature to begin discussions.

“I personally think it is too early to talk about a running mate. We are yet to produce our presidential candidate. Let us do that first,” he said. He also urged Nigerians not to allow the disappointments of the 2023 elections discourage them from participating in the 2027 polls.

According to him, voter apathy only creates room for electoral manipulation.

“The only way we can make our votes count is to come out on election day, vote, and ensure that our votes are counted, recorded, uploaded and announced,” he added.

Let all parties zone 2027 presidency to South  — SMBLF

Backing the NDC’s position, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, urged all political parties to zone their 2027 presidential tickets to the South in the interest of justice and equity.

Spokesperson of the Middle Belt Forum, Luka Binniyat, told Vanguard that the SMBLF remained committed to fairness and national balance.

He said: “The position of the MBF, which aligns with that of our parent body, the SMBLF, is that all political parties should zone their presidential tickets to the South in the interest of fairness and respect for the unwritten political arrangement between the North and South.

“We had eight uninterrupted years under late President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, until 2023. The fair thing is to allow the South, which took over in 2023, remain in power till 2031 before it returns to the North.

“We have members sympathetic to different political parties, but we do not interfere in their internal affairs.

“All we are saying is that power should remain in the South till 2031, regardless of who Nigerians elect as president.”

Common sense dictates power should remain in South till 2031 — PDP NWC member

A member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the party’s National Auditor, Chief Okechukwu Osuoha, also backed the NDC’s zoning arrangement.

Osuoha said although the Nigerian Constitution does not expressly provide for zoning, the PDP constitution recognises it as part of its internal balancing mechanism.

He told Vanguard: “Nigeria’s Constitution does not expressly provide for zoning. It guarantees free and equal participation. However, the PDP constitution recognises zoning. “There has always been an understanding between the North and South that after eight years in one region, power should rotate to the other.

“Buhari spent eight years in office. Common sense dictates that power should remain in the South for another eight years. “That is why any political party zoning its ticket to the South is acting in line with that understanding.”

Osuoha said the APC had effectively adopted the same principle by backing President Tinubu for another term.

“That is why you see the NDC and PDP taking that position. The APC has also effectively zoned the presidency by supporting the incumbent president who is eligible for re-election,” he said.

According to him, zoning promotes equity, fairness, peace and national stability in a diverse country like Nigeria.

The post 2027 Presidency: NDC’s one-term zoning to South sparks praise, knock appeared first on Vanguard News.