2027 Elections: List of Northern Politicians Disqualified as PDP Zones Presidency to South

2027 Elections: List of Northern Politicians Disqualified as PDP Zones Presidency to South

  • The PDP's decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the south has disqualified some northern bigwigs from fighting for the party's ticket
  • Some of the PDP leaders have reacted to the development, with some throwing their weight behind it, while others condemned the move
  • For instance, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP governors' forum, has shared his view about the development

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the south has blocked and disqualified some aspirants from the northern bloc in the party. These aspirants are those who have refused to join the coalition movement led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku, the party's presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, recently resigned his membership from the PDP, with the hope of becoming the flagbearer of the coalition movement, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform.

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Bukola Saraki, Bala Mohammed, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim are the three presidential aspirants who have been automatically disqualified with the PDP zoning its presidential ticket to the south.
Saraki, Bala Mohammed, and Gbenga Olawepo Hashim find themselves disqualified from contesting on the party's platform Photo Credit: @OfficialPDPNig
Source: Twitter

It appeared the former vice president saw its coming that the PDP 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the south before dumping the party and pursuing his presidential ambition elsewhere. Other northern politicians with presidential ambitions who did not follow his footsteps have automatically been denied the chance of contesting for the party's ticket.

Analyst speaks on PDP's fate in 2027

Speaking on the chances of the PDP in the 2027 election, Titilope Anifowoshe, a legal practitioner, predicted a new comeback for the party, particularly in some northern parts of Nigeria.

She said:

"A reinvigorated PDP, especially in parts of the North."

Some of these northern politicians disqualified by the zoning are listed below:

Bukola Saraki

Saraki was the president of the eighth Senate, who was eyeing the number one seat of power, the presidency. He tried his luck in the 2023 PDP presidential primary but lost to former Vice President Atiku.

Read also

2027 presidential ticket: Gov Mohammed mentions 2 influential southern candidates PDP is considering

He is an experienced senator and a two-term governor of Kwara state. He had been at the forefront of uniting the party ahead of the 2027 elections and was yet to react to the recent zoning.

Bala Mohammed

Mohammed is the chairman of the PDP governor's forum, who also tried his luck in the party's presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general elections. Like Saraki, he was defeated by Atiku, who went ahead to become the party's candidate in the poll.

The Bauchi governor has welcomed the recent zoning of the party's presidential ticket to the south. He has also disclosed that the PDP is looking at the possibility of fielding former President Goodluck Jonathan or Peter Obi, who left the party to contest under the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election.

List of northern politicians who have been disqualified from contesting PDP presidential ticket after the zoning has been compiled.
Many northern politicians lose hope of contesting on the party's platform after PDP zoned the presidential ticket to the south. Photo Credit: @OfficialPDPNig
Source: Twitter

Gbenga Olawepo Hashim

The former publicity secretary of the PDP has faulted the zoning arrangement, saying that it was a way to sideline competent candidates who can defeat President Bola Tinubu from joining the race.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, August 28, the PDP chieftain argued that Nigeria's constitution did not recognise zoning, suggesting that the gentleman's agreement between the north and south should be ignored.

Read also

“Why I opted out of 2027 presidential race,” PDP governor explains

Despite the zoning, the Kebbi-born politician has not stopped campaigning for his presidential ambition. Two days ago, he took to his Instagram page, where he was endorsed by some PDP stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

See the post here:

Names of southern politicians eying PDP presidential ticket

Legit.ng earlier compiled the list of prominent Southern politicians speculated as having the chances of emerging as the party's presidential candidates for the 2027 polls.

PDP had earlier zoned its presidential ticket in the 2027 election to the south, leading to a new political alignment and realignment in the party.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Bada Yusuf avatar

Bada Yusuf (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Yusuf Amoo Bada is an accomplished writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism and writing, he is also politics and current affairs editor with Legit.ng. He holds B.A in Literature from OAU, and Diploma in Mass Comm. He has obtained certificates in Google's Advance Digital Reporting, News Lab workshop. He previously worked as an Editor with OperaNews. Best Editor of the Year for Politics and Current Affairs Desk (2023) by Legit.ng. Contact: bada.yusuf.amoo@corp.legit.ng