Politics

2027: It’s Too Late For PDP To Zone Presidency To South – Wike

ByOlamilekan Adigun

PublishedAugust 27, 2025

Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South has come too late.

Olayinka, while speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, argued that had the party listened to Wike and other aggrieved members before the 2023 election, the PDP would not be in 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 said.

“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.”

He recalled that in 2022, Wike and his G-5 allies had demanded that the PDP zone its ticket to the South, arguing that fairness required a southern candidate since then-President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, was completing his tenure.

Olayinka noted that the PDP now faces a tougher political reality ahead of the 2027 elections.

“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?” he added.

Olamilekan Adigun

Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.