A coalition of support groups affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the 2027 presidential ticket to be zoned to the South. The group believes this move would be in the best interest of the party as it looks ahead to the next presidential election.

This call comes amid the growing interest of former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in running for president again under the PDP. At a press conference in Abuja, Usman Saeedu, the Publicity Secretary of the coalition, spoke about the importance of positioning the party for a successful run in the 2027 election.

Grema Mohammed, the National Coordinator of the coalition, also known as the Coalition of PDP Intellectuals, stated, “As we build up to 2027, we are staunchly warning the leaders of our party that this time, we must put the party first and return the party to the Southern part of the country.”

Saeedu emphasized that to achieve victory, the PDP must select strong, dynamic, and reliable candidates who can lead the party to success. He noted that all members of the party must put the party’s interests above personal ambitions and work together to ensure a win in 2027. He urged those who regularly seek the presidential ticket to recognize that sometimes supporting others is just as valuable and essential to the party’s success.

The group said, “We are calling for a twin reform of zoning the party ticket to the South and seeking out competency and ability as the guiding benchmark, saying PDP cannot afford other mistakes.

“We cannot continue to drain the energy and resources of party members in vain, all because institutions that are responsible for doing the right thing are failing in their duties.”

The coalition’s message is clear: the main priority for all PDP members should be the party’s victory, and personal interests should take a back seat for the greater good of the party. By uniting and focusing on the success of the PDP, they believe the party can regain its former prominence and win the 2027 presidential election.