The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that its 2027 governorship ticket will not be zoned to any specific senatorial district but will be open to aspirants from all zones.
The PDP stated this on Sunday through itโs spokesperson, Olusegun Olusola Adewara. Adewara, during a heated discussion on a popular Kwara based WhatsApp group, Kwara Commission which featured supporters and critics of the Kwara North 2027 agenda, said the main opposition party would not be cowed to blackmailed into zoning tbr ticket to Kwara North.
Responding to accusations from agitators demanding the exclusive zoning of the PDPโs ticket to Kwara North, the spokesperson dismissed the notion that the party could be coerced into such a decision. Instead, he affirmed that the PDP is committed to fostering a merit-based and inclusive process that prioritizes the partyโs overall success in reclaiming power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
โMy lord, let me make something clear,โ the spokesperson stated. โThe gubernatorial ticket of any party, including that of the PDP, is never a right of any senatorial districtโNorth, South, or Central. It is the outcome of political permutations, where aspirants with strong connections and consultative power beat the odds. Zoning is an intra-party gentlemanโs agreement, not a constitutional right of any region. I believe, as a legal practitioner, you are acquainted with this fact.โ
The spokesperson emphasized that while the PDP respected the zoning arrangement in 2023 by fielding a candidate from Kwara North, the region failed to rally sufficient support for the candidate. This, he argued, exposed the Kwara North agenda as more of a tool for elite political machination than a genuine grassroots movement.
โIt is an aberration to blame the PDP, which listened to the Kwara North agitation and implemented a zoning formula in 2023, for what was ultimately a failure of the region to consolidate its support,โ he said. โThe outcome revealed that the clamour for the Kwara North agenda was orchestrated by a few political elites seeking to manipulate zonal agitations for their personal ambitions. This is a lesson we and other parties have learned.โ
The PDP spokesperson did not mince words in critiquing what he termed the โbaby criesโ of weak politicians who shy away from open contests. Instead, he declared the partyโs readiness to prioritize competence and electoral viability over zonal considerations.
โWeโve gone back to the drawing board and realized that the โKwara North lokanโ (Kwara Northโs turn) narrative is not grounded in reality. Therefore, we will not be distracted by that noise. This time around, our doors will be open to individuals who genuinely have what it takes, irrespective of their zone of origin.โ
The announcement is expected to trigger a wave of reactions across the political landscape, particularly from proponents of the Kwara North agenda, who have long championed equitable power distribution in the state. The 2023 elections marked the first time a major party such as the PDP ceded its ticket to Kwara North, but the loss in the general election highlighted the challenges of transforming zoning policies into electoral victories.
As the PDP gears up for 2027, it remains to be seen how this decision will influence the partyโs internal dynamics and its broader strategy to reclaim political dominance in Kwara State. What is certain, however, is that the debate over zoning and equitable representation is far from over.