Senator Victor Umeh from Anambra Central has explained why the Nigerian Democratic Congress zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South. He spoke during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today programme on Thursday.
Umeh noted that NDC made the decision to complete the remaining four years owed to Southern Nigeria. This follows from an earlier eight-year tenure that favoured the region, according to him.
"In politics, you must do what will make you succeed," Umeh told reporters. "You must be driven by a sense of balance and equity that draws people to your party," he added.
NDC officially zoned the presidency to the South ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party saw this move as strategic and necessary for electoral success.
Umeh criticised other opposition parties for failing to follow suit. He pointed out that the African Democratic Congress did not implement zoning despite similar circumstances.
"The ADC made the same mistake the PDP made in 2023," Umeh said, referring to how zoning disputes cost the Peoples Democratic Party the last election. "That decision hurt them badly."
According to him, any sensible political actor should recognise Southern Nigeria's entitlement to the presidency. "There's no way you can challenge the South in this election," he noted.
Umeh stressed that NDC rose to the occasion by making the right choice. His comments suggest the party believes zoning will strengthen its 2027 electoral prospects considerably.
