Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has strongly criticized the party’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, calling it a “big error” that could jeopardize the party’s chances in the next general election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today shortly after the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim warned that the zoning decision might inadvertently serve as an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“Zoning the presidency to the South is a default campaign for the return of President Bola Tinubu. Those behind this move claim to be in PDP but are working for Tinubu,” he alleged.

While acknowledging that the zoning decision was reached democratically by a majority vote, he said it was a strategic miscalculation that could weaken the PDP’s competitiveness in 2027.

Olawepo-Hashim argued that the PDP had never formally restricted any region from contesting the presidency in past elections.

He cited past primaries where multiple aspirants from different zones vied for the party’s ticket:

In 1999, General Olusegun Obasanjo ran against northern candidates like Alhaji Rimi and Alex Ekwueme.

In 2003, Obasanjo again contested the party’s ticket against Chief Barnabas Gemade (Benue) and Alhaji Rimi (Kano).

“The PDP has always allowed open competition. This zoning decision breaks from that tradition,” he noted.

Olawepo-Hashim also raised legal concerns, warning that the decision may trigger a constitutional crisis.

He argued that Nigeria’s Constitution does not permit discrimination against party members based on geographic origin when it comes to contesting elective offices.

“The constitution guarantees every Nigerian equal right to participate. This zoning move could violate that principle,” he said.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed Ambassador Umar Damagum as the party’s substantive National Chairman, officially ratifying his leadership during the committee’s 102nd meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

Damagum had been serving as acting chairman since March 2023 following the suspension of former chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu, a decision that was later upheld by the court.

Before assuming the acting role, Damagum held the position of Deputy National Chairman (North).

His confirmation came after the NEC temporarily paused the session to allow for a formal swearing-in ceremony, which was conducted by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.

In his acceptance speech, Damagum expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the National Working Committee (NWC) for their support and collaboration over the past two years.

He also thanked the NEC for recognizing his efforts toward repositioning and stabilizing the party.

“I sincerely appreciate the confidence reposed in me. The work has been challenging, but the unity within the party leadership has made progress possible,” he said.

A communiqué released after the meeting praised the Damagum-led NWC for its role in maintaining party cohesion and steering the PDP through a critical post-election period.

“NEC hereby ratifies and confirms the appointment of Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party with effect from today, Monday, August 25, 2025,” the document stated.

His tenure will continue until the PDP’s national elective convention, scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15–16, 2025.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed that he will contest the 2027 presidential election, ending speculation about his political future.

The announcement was made through Tunde Olusunle, Atiku’s long-time associate and spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign, during an interview on ThisDay Sunday night.

“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned to,” Atiku reportedly said from his residence in the UAE.

Atiku’s declaration comes in response to recent comments by Professor Ola Olateju of Achievers University, who had suggested that the former vice president might step back from politics to focus more broadly on national development.

Atiku, however, quickly distanced himself from the professor’s remarks, clarifying that Olateju had not been authorised to speak on his behalf.

“There was no engagement with me. Prof. Olateju was not speaking for me,” Atiku stated.

The 2023 PDP presidential candidate did not hold back in his assessment of the current administration, accusing it of rampant corruption and lack of accountability.

“The mega-scale, unimpeded thievery and absolute lack of accountability must disturb every patriot,” Olusunle quoted Atiku as saying after a private discussion.

Atiku argued that Nigeria has suffered severe deterioration in governance and social conditions under the APC-led government, describing the country as being in “intensive care.”

Despite PDP’s internal challenges and recent losses, Atiku expressed confidence in the opposition’s ability to regroup and mount a strong challenge in the next election.

“We will shock the world in 2027,” he assured, noting that his coalition is working to mobilise Nigerians in a united effort to “reclaim and rebuild” the nation.

He emphasized his intention to lead the movement for national recovery and said he would “offer himself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland.”

The South West leads the nation in the initial phase of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) online voter pre-registration exercise, contributing over 61 percent of the total 1,379,342 applications submitted between August 18 and 24, 2025.

The commission began the physical registration stage on Monday, August 25, 2025, following the online process.

According to INEC’s latest data released on Monday, Osun State topped the pre-registration list with 393,269 applicants, followed by Lagos with 222,205 and Ogun with 132,823.

Oyo recorded 66,951, Ekiti had 29,685 and Ondo contributed 3,426 registrations, bringing the South West total to 848,359.

Trailing behind, the South South zone logged 169,377 applications, while the South East recorded the lowest with 64,696.

Within the South East, Anambra accounted for the bulk of registrations with 62,698, whereas Abia (772), Ebonyi (261), Enugu (484) and Imo (481) showed significantly lower participation.

In the northern regions, the North Central zone, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led with 243,768 registrations, largely driven by the FCT’s 107,682 and Kogi’s 58,546.

The North West followed with 145,490, while the North East was the lowest among northern zones with 77,652 pre-registrations, making up just 5.6 percent of the national total.

Overall, southern Nigeria accounted for 66.2 percent (912,432) of total registrations, with the North contributing 33.8 percent (466,910).

Demographically, youths aged 18 to 34 years dominated the registrants with 62.37 percent (860,286).

Middle-aged voters (35–49 years) made up 24.76 percent, seniors aged 50–69 years accounted for 11.41 percent, while those 70 and above represented just 1.46 percent.

Gender-wise, women slightly outnumbered men, representing 52.04 percent (717,856) compared to 47.96 percent (661,486).

In terms of occupation, students formed the largest group at 27.15 percent (374,534), followed by business people at 24.82 percent (342,363) and traders at 11.68 percent (161,137).

Artisans made up 10.12 percent, while farmers and fishers contributed 9.23 percent.

Civil and public servants combined accounted for less than five percent.

It is important to note that these figures only reflect the online and initial phase of the registration.

Candidates must complete their registration in person at designated INEC physical registration centres before they can be officially included in the voter register.

INEC had set up 811 physical registration centres nationwide, including offices in all 774 Local Government Areas and state capitals, operating from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

The 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference in Enugu was disrupted on Monday by a peaceful protest demanding the release of Hon. Bright Ngene, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly representing Enugu South Urban Constituency.

Ngene, a lawyer and lawmaker elected under the Labour Party (LP), is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence handed down by an Enugu Magistrate Court.

His supporters claim the conviction stems from a politically motivated case that resurfaced shortly after his election.

Protesters, largely from his constituency, carried placards with messages such as “Free Bright Ngene, a political prisoner of conscience”, “NBA, speak for the voiceless,” “Enugu judiciary must be independent,” “Let Bright Ngene represent his people,” and “Say no to judicial persecution” among others.

Addressing journalists at the protest, community leader Mr. Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s incarceration as a blatant miscarriage of justice.

According to him, the charges were weak, the trial was rushed and the appeal process has been deliberately stalled.

“Since July 28, 2024, Hon. Bright Ngene has been unjustly detained,” Kachukwu said.

“Two judges have already recused themselves from handling the appeal and the Chief Judge has yet to reassign the case. It appears there’s a deliberate effort to silence a freely elected representative.”

He added that despite being behind bars, Ngene won a re-run election held on August 16, 2025, further demonstrating public support for him.

Kachukwu urged the NBA, senior lawyers and human rights advocates to intervene, naming prominent legal figures such as Femi Falana (SAN) and Barrister Monday Ubani as already aware of the situation.

“We are not avoiding the courts, we want the law to take its course,” Kachukwu emphasized.

“But keeping a man in prison indefinitely without allowing the appeal to proceed is a travesty.”

Although security prevented the protesters from entering the main venue of the NBA Conference at the International Conference Center, they staged a peaceful demonstration outside before dispersing.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while keeping the national chairmanship in the North.

This was part of major decisions taken at the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday in Abuja.

The NEC also officially confirmed Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive national chairman, a position he had held in an acting capacity since 2023.

He will continue in that role until the party’s elective national convention in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025.

According to a communiqué issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the NEC approved the report of the Zoning Committee, maintaining the current regional structure of national party offices and formally assigning the presidency to the South for the 2027 general election.

Each region was also instructed to begin micro-zoning internal positions in preparation for the upcoming convention.

In addition, the NEC received reports from the Constitution Amendment Committee and ordered that draft amendments be distributed to state chapters for broader consultation and input.

The PDP used the opportunity to criticize the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of “state capture” and alleging electoral misconduct including intimidation and militarisation during recent bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States.

The party warned that such actions threaten democracy and could lead to a de facto one-party state.

In a related development, during the preceding Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara (represented by Senator Ahmed Makarfi) emphasized the need for unity and reconciliation within the party.

He urged leaders to reach out to estranged members and warned that no political party can succeed with prolonged internal exclusion.

Chairman Damagum echoed this in his NEC address, stressing the importance of internal cohesion, especially at a critical time in Nigeria’s political development.

He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to gender inclusion, highlighting its support for the affirmative action bill currently before the National Assembly.

Speaking on the zoning outcome, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who chaired the Zoning Committee, stated that the decision followed wide consultations with governors, past leaders, and party stakeholders.

He explained that the move is consistent with the PDP’s constitution and long-standing practice of rotational justice.

In its closing resolutions, the NEC reiterated its readiness to “reclaim power in 2027,” vowing to defend democratic values, promote citizen welfare, and offer Nigerians a credible alternative to the APC’s governance.

The next NEC meeting has been scheduled for October 15, 2025, as the party intensifies preparations for the November convention.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that no Igbo candidate will challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.

The group insists that the Southeast’s opportunity to produce the country’s next president lies in 2035 not 2027.

In a statement released in Abakaliki, signed by Deputy President-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and National Spokesman Chief Thompson Ohia, Ohanaeze explained that this decision followed extensive discussions with Southeast political stakeholders.

The group endorsed Tinubu’s re-election effort and claimed that approximately 95% of Igbo voters would rally behind him.

Ohanaeze stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the most viable platform for an Igbo presidency, should the zoning arrangement change by 2035.

Among several capable Igbo leaders including Peter Obi, Ifeanyi Okowa, Pius Anyim, Hope Uzodinma, Chukwuma Soludo and Rochas Okorocha, Senator David Umahi was singled out as the most promising contender for 2035, based on his track record in governance and political leadership.