The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioning the opposition party against zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the North, a move he believes could lead to yet another electoral defeat.
Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike said it was time for the PDP to avoid repeating what he called the “mistake of 2023.”
“Why not, as a party, come out openly and say our presidential candidate will come out from the south?” he queried.
Wike faulted what he described as the party’s reluctance to adopt a clear and equitable approach to zoning.
“You don’t want to do that. You want to play the same game you played in 2023. It will backfire,” he warned.
In a further rebuke of PDP’s internal strategies, Wike said, “This smartness won’t help you. Come out now and let everybody know where you are heading. You can’t send the presidency to the north. I told them. Selfishness can kill a system.”
He added that if President Bola Tinubu wins a second term in 2027 under the APC, the ruling party will likely return the presidency to the North in 2031.
According to him, the PDP might be tempted to follow suit, a prospect he strongly rejected.
“For example, if Mr President runs and wins in 2027, by 2031 APC will send their presidential ticket to the north. PDP will do what then? You will come back then and say since APC is sending it to the north, let’s give the north our presidential ticket. What kind of smartness is that?” he asked.
Though he didn’t mention any names directly, Wike’s comments seem to target Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, who has insisted he will keep contesting.
Atiku had declared in May 2024 that he would not stop running for Nigeria’s top office as long as he remains alive and healthy.
He defended his persistence by invoking the story of Abraham Lincoln: “Even the former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, contested seven times before his eventual victory,” Atiku said.
