Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South as “too late.”
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Olayinka said that had the party heeded Wike’s advice before the 2023 election, it would not be facing its current crisis.
“It is too late because we had the chance of doing the right thing three years ago that we did not do,” Olayinka stated. “For instance, if we had agreed with him (Wike), probably the party wouldn’t be where it is today. Head is off already, we are crying. What we should have done three years ago, we did not do.”
Olayinka recalled that in 2022, Wike and the G-5 governors demanded that the PDP zone its ticket to the South, insisting that fairness required a southern candidate since then-President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, was completing his tenure.
He warned that the PDP now faces a tougher political reality ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The second thing that is too late is that you’re now saying the president should come from the South, but the issue is that another party that is in power has its candidate too from the same South and that candidate would have spent four years in office and will have four years more to spend,” he said.
“Now you’re presenting your (Southern) candidate to the North, will that North agree with a candidate that will be starting afresh? A candidate that would probably want to go for second term if he wins in 2031? Or a candidate that only has four years to spend?” Olayinka added.
The PDP recently resolved to zone its presidential ticket to the South for the 2027 elections. Critics argue that the move may not produce the desired results given past missteps.
To address concerns over northern acceptance of a southern candidate, reports suggest that the PDP is considering former President Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi. Jonathan, who previously served as president, constitutionally has four more years to complete an eight-year term, while Obi has promised to serve only one term if elected.
According to Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), discussions have been ongoing with Jonathan and Obi about returning to the party. He added that if Obi rejoins, he could emerge as PDP’s presidential candidate.
