NDC Denies Zoning Presidential Ticket To South, Says No Pact With Jonathan

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed speculations linking the party to an alleged pact with former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The party insisted that consultations regarding its presidential ticket were still ongoing and that no final decision had been taken.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the Deputy National Spokesman of the NDC, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said the party had neither zoned its presidential ticket nor reached any agreement with Jonathan.

“The NDC is a party that believes in merging ideas and consultations across boards,” he said.

“I can categorically tell you that we have not zoned the presidential ticket. Consultations are still ongoing since politics is a dynamic game.”

Abdulsalam disclosed that the NDC was attracting interest from several high-profile political figures across party lines, including members of the ruling party.

According to him, former governors, ex-ministers and serving or former lawmakers were already making moves towards the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

“As I speak to you, we are still expecting high-profile personalities, including former governors, ex-ministers, serving and former lawmakers, even from the ruling party,” he said.

“The NDC is the beautiful bride that everybody wants to have right now.”

Reacting to reports that the party could be considering Jonathan as its presidential candidate, Abdulsalam described the claims as speculation.

“This is another rumour making the rounds that former President Jonathan wants to pitch his tent in our party,” he stated.

“There is no concrete move like that in the hierarchy of our party, and such a decision has not been taken.”

Despite denying any existing arrangement, the party spokesman said Jonathan remained constitutionally qualified to contest for office if he chose to do so.

“But I can tell you that everything is still possible in the case of former President Jonathan,” Abdulsalam added.

“He is a Nigerian who is eminently qualified to fly the flag of the party on any platform of his choice. But as of today, we have no pact with him.”