Dare Babalola
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially zoned its presidential ticket for the 2027 general election to Southern Nigeria.
The decision was announced as top leaders of the party, including Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and other key stakeholders, gathered in Abuja for the party’s national convention.
The convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as address critical issues affecting the party ahead of the next election cycle.
According to the agenda made available to journalists, matters slated for discussion include zoning arrangements, ratification of the amended party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a wave of defections from other political parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), boosting its growing national profile.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC. Their defection letters were read during plenary.
The lawmakers 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 and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The latest defections came barely two days after former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Kwankwaso, who contested under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), were presented with NDC membership cards last Sunday after a closed-door meeting with party leaders in Abuja.
Both politicians were received by former Bayelsa State Governor and NDC national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, amid cheers from supporters at the party secretariat.
Obi had explained that his decision to leave the ADC was influenced by worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor also lamented the state of Nigeria’s political environment, describing it as toxic and increasingly hostile to genuine public service.
