According to a report by The Sun Nigeria on August 25, 2025, former Minister of Information and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Jerry Gana, has issued a stern warning to party leaders against tampering with the zoning principle ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a meeting of PDP elders and stakeholders, Gana declared that the survival of the opposition party depends on respecting its long-established rotation of power between North and South.
He cautioned that any attempt to repeat past mistakes by sidelining zoning would amount to a political suicide mission for the party.
“If PDP dares to betray zoning again, like Jonathan in 2015 and Atiku in 2023, we will bury the party,” Gana said. “Our founding fathers designed zoning to ensure fairness, justice, and unity. Each time we abandon it, we pay a heavy price. We cannot afford to repeat history in 2027.”
The PDP has a turbulent record with zoning. In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to seek re-election despite northern opposition triggered massive internal revolt, ultimately contributing to the party’s loss of power to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Similarly, in 2023, the party threw open its presidential ticket, producing Atiku Abubakar from the North while the national chairman was also from the same region — a move that fueled the G5 governors’ rebellion and fractured the party.
Party insiders say zoning will be the most decisive factor at the forthcoming national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PDP zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, is expected to submit its recommendations to the National Executive Committee (NEC) this week.
Many stakeholders, including Gana, argue that the presidency should return to the South in 2027 if the PDP is serious about regaining national relevance.
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