Countdown to 2027: Gana, Baraje, Makarfi Jostle for PDP Chair as Consensus Push Grows

With the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Convention slated for November 15–16, 2025 in Ibadan, top party figures are lining up to contest the National Chairman position, amid growing calls for a consensus-based selection process

Main Aspirants and Internal Dynamics

Reported frontrunners include Professor Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information; ex-party chair Kawu Baraje; and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi. Current acting Chairman Umar Damagum is also believed to be seeking a substantive appointment

While the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is encouraging candidates with proven experience, tensions over zoning and power-sharing remain unresolved. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned that southern power structures must be handled delicately to avoid undermining the convention’s success.

The APC’s publicity director, Bala Ibrahim, has seized on the ongoing infighting to suggest it reflects broader instability within the opposition party Punch.

Convention Preparations and Zoning Framework

According to the PDP’s Constitution (Part X, Sec. 33), the National Convention is mandated to elect and oversee the National Working Committee (NWC), oversee policy direction, and enforce discipline within the party.

During its 101st NEC meeting held in late July, PDP confirmed the convention dates and approved the membership of both the National Convention Committee and the Zoning Committee to guarantee fairness and transparency

Consensus vs Contest Debate

While party elders favor producing a unity-driven consensus candidate to avoid internal friction and bolster cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections, others within the NEC assert that healthy competition is essential to democratic integrity, insisting aspirants should present their manifestos to delegates.

A source argued that unless zoning excludes certain individuals, Gana, Baraje, Makarfi, and Damagum are all viable contenders. Successful resolution, they noted, hinges on combining both zoning and consensus approaches to avert a repeat of past crises

Yet other insiders emphasize the risks of consensus, warning that it could stifle internal democracy by shutting out qualified aspirants—a path they argue is more dangerous than managing a competitive primary.

Looking Forward

The PDP is aiming for a consolidated front as it prepares for 2027, and the outcomes of the Ibadan convention—particularly the decisions on chairmanship, zoning, and unity—are likely to define the party’s internal dynamics and electoral prospects.