ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Nigeria Democratic Congress has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, a development viewed as strengthening the prospects of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.
The announcement was made on Saturday during the party’s national convention in Abuja.
The party also confirmed the decision in a post on its official X handle, stating, “NDC Presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The convention was attended by prominent party figures, including Obi and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
READ ALSO:Obi Faults NBC’s New Media Advisory
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, key matters scheduled for deliberation included zoning arrangements, ratification of the amended party constitution, and the election of national executives.
The party has recently recorded a wave of defections from other political parties, including the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC during plenary.
The lawmakers are Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others include Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections followed the formal defection of Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC to the NDC two days earlier.
Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Kwankwaso, 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 blamed worsening internal crises, outside interference, and growing hostility within party structures for his exit from the ADC, which he joined in December 2025 after leaving the Labour Party.