The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday ratified the appointment of Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

The decision was taken at the 102nd meeting of the NEC held in Abuja, where critical resolutions were passed on the state of the party and preparations for its forthcoming National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, from November 15 to 16, 2025.

In a communique issued after the meeting and signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party said it was satisfied with the level of preparedness across its structures for the convention, acknowledging the commitment of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees, National Working Committee (NWC), National Assembly Caucus, and other stakeholders.

One of the major highlights of the meeting was the approval of the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee. NEC resolved that all current national party offices would remain in their respective regions—North and South. Significantly, the party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region, following the decision to retain the position of National Chairman in the North.

The NEC further directed that the respective regions should immediately begin the process of micro-zoning offices within their zones.

On the internal reform front, the party received an update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee and mandated it to circulate the draft amendment to organs and chapters of the party for further input.

Meanwhile, the PDP NEC strongly criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over what it described as “state capture” and “militarization” of recent bye-elections, particularly in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States. It condemned the deployment of excessive security operatives in Zamfara’s Kaura Namoda South State Constituency where a run-off election was conducted in just five polling units.

The PDP warned that APC’s alleged actions signaled a dangerous drift towards a one-party state, which it described as a threat to democracy and the corporate existence of Nigeria.

The communique reaffirmed PDP’s commitment to defending democracy and protecting the interests of Nigerians, stressing that the party is repositioning itself to reclaim power in the 2027 general elections.

The NEC fixed its next meeting, the 103rd session, for October 15, 2025.