GUSAU: Governors elected on the platform of the peoples democratic party(PDP on Saturday gathered at the Zamfara State Government House, Gusau, for a crucial closed-door meeting aimed at addressing internal party disputes and charting a new course ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-level session comes at a delicate moment for Nigeria’s main opposition party, which has been grappling with internal wrangling, defections, and growing concerns about its ability to provide a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although the governors kept discussions tightly under wraps, sources within the party told Rapidospace News that the meeting focused heavily on the controversial issue of zoning the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket.
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The PDP’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for Monday, is expected to take a final decision on whether the ticket will be zoned to the South, thrown open to all aspirants, or retained in the North.
Party insiders say influential voices within the NEC are pushing strongly for zoning to the South, insisting that the region still has an outstanding four-year claim under the PDP’s rotational power-sharing arrangement.
Others, however, argue that an open contest would give the party its best chance of fielding a strong candidate capable of defeating the APC in 2027.
The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, hosted the session, describing it as a “strategic consultation to realign the party. According to his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala, the governors arrived in Gusau on Friday for a dinner before holding the main deliberations on Saturday.
Bala noted that the meeting was designed to address pressing political issues, foster unity within the party, and map out strategies for developmental collaboration across PDP-controlled states.
Observers believe Zamfara was chosen to send a strong signal of solidarity to the Northwest, a region seen as critical to determining Nigeria’s next president.
The Gusau meeting is part of a broader build-up to the PDP National Convention, slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
At that gathering, the party is expected to unveil its new national leadership, fine-tune its policy agenda, and officially flag off preparations for the 2027 polls.
Political watchers say the PDP faces a delicate balancing act. On one hand, it must heal internal divisions triggered by the fallout of the 2023 elections and ongoing leadership tussles.
On the other hand, it must rally the confidence of millions of supporters eager for a credible alternative to the APC.
Several PDP leaders and elder statesmen have in recent weeks urged the governors to take decisive steps to prevent further disunity. Some have warned that the party risks losing relevance if it fails to resolve its zoning dilemma and leadership crisis before the convention.
Grassroots supporters, particularly in the South, are demanding fairness in the zoning
arrangement, while Northern blocs remain keen on retaining a strong say in the ticket. Analysts note that how the governors manage these competing demands will determine whether the PDP emerges stronger or weaker ahead of 2027.
While details of Saturday’s meeting remain undisclosed, expectations are high that the governors will release a communique in the coming days, setting the tone for Monday’s NEC meeting.
For many Nigerians, the outcome of these deliberations could shape the political landscape leading to 2027, as the PDP attempts to position itself as a viable alternative in a nation grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, and disenchantment with governance.
