Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District, has explained why the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, decided to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of the country.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Umeh said the decision was taken to allow the South complete what he described as its remaining four years under the nation’s power rotation arrangement.
The lawmaker noted that the NDC adopted the zoning principle as a strategic political move aimed at ensuring fairness, equity and national balance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The NDC had officially announced on Saturday that its presidential ticket for the 2027 general election would be zoned to the South.
According to Umeh:
“NDC was able to rise to the occasion by doing the needful. In politics, you must do what will make you succeed. You must be driven by a sense of balance, a sense of equity, something that will make people come to you.
“The African Democratic Congress, ADC, was not able to do zoning. Zoning was a problem that caused the PDP the election in 2023. So it is surprising that the ADC, with all the efforts we made and the strength intermask decided to make the same mistake again.
“NDC has risen to the occasion, and knowing that there is no way you can come and challenge the Southern Nigeria in this election, where they are entitled to two terms in office; eight years.
“Because eight years in the last dispensation, when it shifted to the turn of the South, it became necessary that any right thinking person should be able to take candidates from the southern part of Nigeria,” the lawmaker said.
Umeh’s remarks come amid ongoing political realignments and growing debate over zoning and power rotation ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
