Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, endorsed the Nigeria Democratic Congress's decision to allocate its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria. He made the declaration during the party's national convention in Abuja on Saturday. Kwankwaso stated, "I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket to Southern so that the region can complete its eight years." He added that the move aligns with the party's internal zoning agreement.
The NDC formally adopted the resolution during the convention after a motion by Afam Victor Ogene, lawmaker representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State. Party National Chairman Moses Cleopas announced the decision, describing it as part of a power-sharing arrangement to balance regional interests. Cleopas confirmed that the North would have the presidential ticket again in 2031. "It will be the turn of the North in 2031," he said.
The convention also featured the ratification of the National Working Committee's membership. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, and Seriake Dickson, former Bayelsa State governor, were present. Both Obi and Kwankwaso officially joined the NDC during the event. Obi said their entry was driven by the need for a stable political platform without internal crises. Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to register and support the party's mobilisation efforts ahead of 2027.
The zoning decision is expected to benefit southern aspirants, including Peter Obi, in the lead-up to the party's presidential primary. The development occurs as opposition figures work to consolidate ahead of the 2027 general election. The NDC's move positions it within the broader opposition realignment challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.
Kwankwaso backs a power-sharing deal that assumes the NDC will survive long enough to rotate power in 2031, though the party has no electoral track record. The promise of a northern turn in six years relies on a future that depends on a coalition holding together beyond the next election. If internal stability is the reason Obi and Kwankwaso joined, the eight-year zoning plan may test that claim more than it guarantees it.
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