The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) recent decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
According to reports, Bolaji Abdullahi called it a strategic maneuver designed to attract prominent politicians like Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, and Rotimi Amaechi.
Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, accused both the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being preoccupied with political calculations instead of focusing on the nation’s pressing issues.
He argued that the early focus on zoning demonstrates a lack of sensitivity to the hardship faced by Nigerians, particularly with the election still two years away.
“Why are we so preoccupied and behaving in such a way that Nigerians begin to look at the political elite across the divides as if we don’t care about them?” Abdullahi questioned.
The PDP recently announced that its presidential ticket for 2027 would be reserved for a candidate from the South, while the national chairmanship would remain in the North.
Similarly, the APC has endorsed President Bola Tinubu as its sole candidate for the next election. Abdullahi dismissed both parties’ moves as mere political gamesmanship.
He suggested that the experienced politicians in both parties are either part of a “predetermined game” or attempting to “bait some people to come around.”
Also see: PDP Southern Zoning Sparks New Crisis
Abdullahi emphasised that the ADC operates differently, as it is not built around a single aspirant.
He stated that individuals like Atiku Abubakar, Obi, and Amaechi would all have an equal opportunity to seek the party’s ticket should they choose to.
The ADC spokesman confirmed that his party has not yet made a decision on zoning its presidential ticket, as its current priority is on grassroots mobilization and building strong party structures.
“What is most important to us is to convince Nigerians that we represent that alternative that can bring respite to their current sufferings,” he explained.
Abdullahi reiterated that the ADC remains unconcerned by the PDP’s zoning announcement, stating, “Nigerians can see right into it.”
He added that the PDP’s decision, made so far ahead of the election, suggests a hidden agenda, but the ADC remains focused on its own objectives.
