Dare Babalola
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South and retain the National Chairmanship in the North is a vindication of the G5 governors.
The G5 governors are members of the Peoples Democratic Party who fought against the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party while another northerner, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, remained the party’s national chairman.
The G5 governors cited the zoning formula enshrined in the party’s constitution, adding that the Presidency should rather be zoned to the South, after eight years of a northern presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governors at the time were Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Wike (Rivers) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Following the zoning of the presidency to the south at the NEC meeting held on Monday, the former Rivers governor, in a statement through Lere Olayinka, his Senior Special Assistant
Public Communications and Social Media, described the development as a belated validation of the governor’s stance.
“Now, that the party has realised its mistake of not listening to Wike and the G-5 in 2022, and have chosen to do what they said, three years after, have they not been vindicated now?” Olayinka asked.
Furthermore, the media aide recalled that Wike and other G5 governors agitated for the same position but were ignored by the party, which according to him, caused PDP the 2023 presidency.
He added, “Ayu, however insisted on not resigning, with Atiku and his group backing him. Aftermath of this was the electoral misfortune the party suffered in 2023, followed by instability after the elections.
“But today, the NEC resolved that since the National Chairman of the party is zoned to the North, the PDP 2027 Presidential ticket be zoned to the South.
“Has PDP not come back to eat its own vomit?
“Sadly, they know the truth. Wike simply said, take the chairmanship to the South if you want to gain the presidency, but they said no, they must take the two, and the PDP lost!”
He, however, added that it is not too late for the opposition party to retrace its steps by standing by the zoning decision.
