Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has pinpointed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to open its 2023 presidential ticket to all regions, rather than zoning it to southern Nigeria, as the primary reason for its electoral defeat.
Speaking on Channels Television’s _Politics Today_ on Thursday, August 28, 2025, Mohammed reflected on the party’s recent move to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the south, a decision he believes will bolster the PDP’s prospects.
“Life is a continuous learning curve. In 2023, when we opened the ticket to all, it was a bitter lesson, and it cost us the election,” said Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum. “I realized the presidency in Nigeria thrives on consensus. You cannot force your will on any group or individual.”
The PDP’s choice to forgo regional zoning in 2023 led to internal strife, notably with the G-5 group of governors, led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
The group opposed the open ticket, arguing it violated Nigeria’s unwritten power-sharing tradition between the north and south.
Wike, who lost the PDP primary to Atiku Abubakar, deemed the decision unjust, especially after northern-born former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
“Power should have shifted to the south,” Wike had argued, a stance that led him to support Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who won the 2023 election and later appointed Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
To prevent a repeat of the 2023 fallout, the PDP has now zoned its 2027 ticket to the south, where President Tinubu hails from. Mohammed endorsed this move, stating, “When my party chose to zone the ticket to the south, I supported it fully because it serves the common good, not personal ambitions.”
He emphasized that the decision corrects past errors and strengthens the party’s unity.
Mohammed, who previously expressed interest in the 2027 presidency, stressed the need for a formidable southern candidate to challenge Tinubu.
“With Tinubu nearing the end of his first term, we need someone strong—stronger than him—from the south to give him a real fight, as the current government is underperforming,” he said.
The PDP’s strategic shift, Mohammed noted, reflects lessons learned and a commitment to equity, positioning the party for a stronger showing in 2027.
Channels
