The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ratified the appointment of Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 102nd meeting held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The NEC, after extensive deliberations, also resolved to zone the presidential ticket of the party for the 2027 general elections to the Southern region of the country.
According to the communiqué presented by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, NEC approved the recommendations of the National Convention Zoning Committee, which retained all current national offices in their existing regions and directed immediate micro-zoning within the regions for implementation.
“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,” the communiqué stated.
On the forthcoming National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State, from Saturday, November 15 to Sunday, November 16, 2025, NEC expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness across the party’s organs, chapters, and structures.
The party also received updates from the Constitution Amendment Committee and directed it to circulate the draft amendments to relevant organs and chapters for further input.
Meanwhile, NEC condemned what it described as the “state capture agenda” of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of deploying state-backed intimidation, inducement, and coercion in recent by-elections.
It particularly decried the militarization of bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States, noting that excessive security deployment in Kaura Namoda South Constituency for a run-off in just five polling units was a threat to democracy.
“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,” the communiqué read.
The NEC reassured Nigerians of the PDP’s commitment to defending democracy and protecting citizens’ welfare, stressing that the party is working hard to reposition itself to regain power in 2027.
The meeting adjourned
