Buba Galadima, a key political associate of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has revealed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region, a move that could significantly boost the chances of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Galadima confirmed that the NDC will submit its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 5 or 6, marking a key step towards finalising its electoral preparations.
“Once we do that, we are good to go,” he said confidently.
When questioned about the party’s stance on zoning and the candidate selection process, Galadima made it clear, saying, “We have zoned the party’s presidential candidature to the south. No missing votes. We’ve zoned it to the south.”
The zoning decision is widely seen as a major political opening for Peter Obi, who hails from the South-East and has consistently advocated for power rotation to ensure equity and national balance. With the ticket now reserved for the South, Obi is expected to emerge as a strong contender within the party.
On the issue of selecting a candidate, Galadima stated that the NDC’s immediate focus remains on conducting primaries, rather than adopting a consensus candidate.
This development comes after Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State, formally joined the NDC on Sunday. Both politicians had earlier exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid an ongoing internal crisis within the party.
Obi, who had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the ADC’s leadership, had been particularly vocal about the need for zoning, arguing that failure to address power rotation could undermine the coalition and create distrust among stakeholders. Following the ADC’s summit in Ibadan, Obi reportedly stopped attending the party’s meetings, signalling his growing discontent with its direction.
However, the NDC’s zoning decision may not only unify its southern base but also reposition the party as a viable platform for Obi’s presidential ambition, especially as the 2027 race begins to take shape.
The NDC’s move signals a significant step towards strengthening internal cohesion while setting the stage for what could become a highly competitive presidential contest.
