The Nigeria Democratic Congress has officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, while also declaring that the candidate who emerges will serve only a single four-year term.
The decision was reached on Saturday during the party’s national convention held in Abuja, a gathering attended by key opposition figures and party stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement shared through its official communication channels, the party announced that the presidential ticket had been ceded to the South, while the 2031 ticket would be reserved for Northern Nigeria.
The zoning arrangement is widely seen as a major boost for Peter Obi, one of the most prominent southern politicians currently in the party. Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also attended the convention.
According to the convention agenda circulated to journalists, delegates were expected to deliberate on zoning, ratification of amendments to the party constitution, and the election of national executives.
The convention comes amid significant political realignments within the opposition camp. The NDC has recently attracted defectors from several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
Earlier in the week, 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC during plenary at the National Assembly.
Those who joined the party include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, Munachim Umezuruike, Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
Their defection came shortly after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC. Both politicians reportedly received their membership cards after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
They were welcomed into the party by former Bayelsa State Governor and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson.
Obi, who left the Labour Party for the ADC in December 2025 before later moving to the NDC, had previously cited internal crises, external interference and increasing hostility within party structures as reasons for his political realignment.
The former Anambra governor also described Nigeria’s political climate as increasingly toxic, arguing that insecurity, intimidation and sustained political pressure have made genuine public service more difficult.
