The Nigeria Democratic Congress has zoned its presidential ticket for the 2027 general election to Southern Nigeria, a development widely viewed as strengthening the ambition of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.
The decision was announced on Saturday during the party’s national convention in Abuja, where key stakeholders gathered to deliberate on the party’s future ahead of the next election cycle.
Confirming the resolution, the party disclosed in a statement shared on its official X handle that, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South.”
Among prominent political figures present at the convention were Obi and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, both of whom recently joined the party.
Documents obtained by journalists at the venue showed that discussions at the convention centred on zoning arrangements, ratification of amendments to the party’s constitution, and the election of new national executives.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival political parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives dumped the ADC for the NDC during plenary.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The wave of defections followed the formal entry of Obi and Kwankwaso into the NDC from the ADC earlier in the week.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, alongside Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, received their NDC membership cards on Sunday 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 had attributed his exit from the ADC to persistent internal crises, alleged external interference and what he described as growing hostility within the party structure.
The former governor had joined the ADC in December 2025 after leaving the Labour Party.