Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has explained why former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar became the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in 2027.

Abba Moro, a chieftain of the PDP, stated this hours after the main opposition party held its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting saw the PDP zone its 2027 presidency to the South, meaning that other zones would not be contesting in the party’s primaries in 2026.

Zoning was one of the major issues that led to the crisis still hitting the party to date, resulting in the likes of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike working against the party in the last general elections.

The PDP had left their presidential ticket open for all zones and contestants which led to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar, a northerner as the party’s presidential candidate for the election.

Moro, appearing on Arise News on Monday evening, said the decision was deliberate, suggesting that Atiku was the best candidate the party was left with.

On why the PDP now zoned the 2027 Presidency to the South, Moro said the party leadership advocated for a shift from the North in the belief of equity.

He added, “The PDP decided to put its best foot forward in 2023, regardless of where the candidate came from. That is why Atiku was nominated in 2023, and it backfired.”

The PDP said it is putting its house in order as it hopes to be a stronger and more viable opposition in 2027.