The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.

The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.

Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”

The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.

The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.

Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.

According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.

Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.

The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.

The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.

A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.

Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.

The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.

He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday dismissed the inauguration of a Peoples Democratic Party caretaker committee by supporters of Kabiru Turaki, describing the move as fraudulent and misleading.

Wike warned Nigerians against what he termed an attempt to create confusion within the party, insisting that there is only one authentic Peoples Democratic Party with its national secretariat at Wadata House, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

Speaking on the development, the former Rivers State governor maintained that the caretaker committee set up by Turaki and his loyalists was an effort to deceive the public, stressing that there was no leadership vacuum in the party.

He said, “You have refused to tell the public what is on ground, and you are coming out to say ‘we are setting up a caretaker committee’, how? And you are deceiving people that you want to sell form.

“I dare them, let me see an office you will name PDP national secretariat. If you say you are a party, go and put a sign ‘PDP national secretariat’ just as we are occupying Wadata, that is where everybody knows as PDP national secretariat.

“If you are saying that you want to sell form, to whom? You will submit it where? Is that not fraud? You went to court, we didn’t go to court, and the court gave judgment against you.

“You have not set aside that judgment and you are now coming to deceive people by setting up a caretaker committee and begin to sell forms. Is that not fraud? What is 419?”

Wike further stated that the recent PDP convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, and witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, remained the only legitimate convention of the party, which produced the current National Working Committee.

Turaki bloc insists on interim leadership
Meanwhile, the crisis took a new turn on Monday as the Board of Trustees of the PDP, led by Adolphus Wabara, appointed a 13-member interim National Working Committee for the party.

Wabara said the decision was in line with the party’s constitution, arguing that a recent Supreme Court judgment, which upheld the nullification of the Ibadan convention, created a leadership vacuum within the PDP.

The interim committee is headed by Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties.

The decision followed a National Executive Committee meeting convened by the Turaki-led bloc at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

Notable stakeholders present at the meeting included the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu; ex-Minister of Information, Jerry Gana; Wabara; Turaki; and former Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, among others.

The group also declared that the Abuja convention which produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee of the PDP was null and void.

The latest development signals a deepening leadership crisis within the main opposition party, raising concerns over its internal cohesion ahead of future political contests.

The people of Ido-Osi Local Government Area and Isokan Local Council Development Area in Ekiti State have concluded arrangements to receive Governor Biodun Oyebanji during his campaign visit scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the Governor’s campaign visit, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre.

According to the statement, the visit is expected to be peaceful and colourful, while also serving as an opportunity to further strengthen the relationship between the governor and residents of the two councils.

Ojo-Lanre described Oyebanji as a leader whose administration had continued to demonstrate humility, sincerity and commitment to the development of the state.

He said the governor’s visit was beyond politics, noting that it represented continuity, trust and people-centred governance.

He said, “Ido-Osi and Isokan are ready. Our people are prepared to receive a governor who has governed with calmness, compassion, intelligence and visible results.

“This is a call to all sons and daughters of Ido-Osi and Isokan to come out in their numbers and appreciate a leader who has kept faith with the people of Ekiti.”

The committee urged party members, community leaders, youths, women groups, artisans, market leaders, transport unions and other residents to turn out in large numbers for the event.

It added that necessary arrangements had been made for community mobilisation and proper documentation of the visit.

The committee also appealed to residents and party supporters to maintain peace, orderliness and discipline before, during and after the event.

According to the statement, the visit would provide another opportunity for the people to reaffirm their support for continuity, stability and consolidation of good governance in the state.