A former House of Representatives member, Tajudeen Yusuf, has issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that the party must zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region or risk political ruin.
Yusuf, a known ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today program on Tuesday.
"No single politician can win an election without collective goodwill," Yusuf emphasized. "Zone to the south and see what will happen, but if we continue this trajectory and continue to progress in error, we are postponing the doomsday."
G5 Governors Push for Southern Ticket
BenriNews recalls that Wike and other G5 members met on Monday and advocated for the PDP to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the Southern region of the country, a move they believe is crucial for the party's future.
According to Yusuf, zoning the 2027 ticket to the South would restore unity within the party and potentially attract key political figures like Peter Obi of the Labour Party back to the PDP fold.
"If today, the PDP ticket is zoned to the South, I have a conviction Peter Obi will be more comfortable coming to PDP, but if it's not zoned and the dynamics and dialectics of primaries are allowed to play, he might not, just like he moved when it was not zoned and guaranteed a vice presidency. PDP should do the right thing first," he stated.
Atiku's Current Standing
The PDP chieftain also addressed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's current political position, claiming that Atiku is no longer actively in the PDP but is participating in ongoing coalition discussions.
Yusuf attributed the party's loss in the 2023 presidential election to poor leadership decisions and a controversial northern zoning strategy. He pointed to PDP's internal fractures, particularly the fallout from Atiku's candidacy, as a key reason for the party's defeat.
The former lawmaker also expressed regret over the recent defection of former Delta State Governor and the party's Vice-Presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He noted that the 2023 campaign of the PDP had heightened grievances among party members, contributing to such defections.
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