The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to open its 2027 presidential ticket to aspirants from all parts of the country, while still retaining the principle of zoning to the South.

The party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, stated during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show that while zoning remained a tool for equity, it could not override the country’s Constitution, which guarantees all citizens the right to seek elective office.

“Even if we zone our presidential slot to the South, it will not stop anybody from any part of the country from showing interest.

“We cannot do things that will contradict the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grand norm,” Ajibade said.

The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to commence hearings on September 30 in a case involving a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The suit, filed by Nafiu Bala, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, challenges the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Secretary.

Respondents in the case include the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

At Monday’s proceedings, plaintiff’s lawyer Michael Agber informed Justice Emeka Nwite that court documents had been served on Mark and Aregbesola through the ADC’s office. The ADC’s counsel, Shuaib Aruwan (SAN), clarified that he represents only the party, not the individual respondents.

Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing, directing that all respondents be properly served with court processes.

Earlier on September 4, the court denied Nafiu Bala’s request for an immediate injunction against Mark and Aregbesola but ordered that all parties be notified to respond.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that 157 out of 171 associations, which applied to be registered as political parties, failed registration requirements.

In a statement, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said that only 14 associations met the requirements, and they had been cleared to proceed to the next stage of the registration process.

The electoral body stressed that the interim chairmen and secretaries of the pre-qualified associations had been invited to a briefing next Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The 14 associations that scaled the first hurdle, according to INEC, were African Transformation Party (ATP), All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (APP), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA).

Others were Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Grassroots Initiative Party (GRIP), Green Future Party (GFP), Liberation Peoples Party (LPP), National Reform Party (NRP), Patriotic Peoples Alliance (PPA), and Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).

The associations that failed to meet the requirements included African Alliance Party (AAP), National Advancement Party (NAP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),

The Nigerian Covenant (TNC), Democracy for Dividends Party (DDP), National Coalition of Democrats, African Renaissance Party (ARP), Peoples Interest Movement (PIM), Rescue Party (RP), and Guardian Democratic Party (GDP).

Also on the list, INEC said, were Save Nigeria Congress (SNC), National Democratic Liberation Party (NDLP), National Action Congress of Nigeria (NACN), Peoples Supremacy Party, African Future Alliance (AFAP) Party, Freedom Alliance Party (FAP), and People’s Community Development Party (PCDP).