A member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Diran Odeyemi, and a chieftain of the Labour Party, Anslem Eragbe, have cautioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against contesting the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the South should retain power for eight years.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Eragbe argued that Atiku should not have contested in 2023 as it was the turn of the South, and the region should retain power until 2031.
“Atiku was not supposed to contest the 2023 presidential election because it was the turn of southern Nigeria. It is the turn of the South till 2031,” he said, adding that the 2027 presidency should be micro-zoned to the South-South, particularly Edo and Delta states.
Eragbe emphasized that compared to other geopolitical zones, the South-South had ruled for the least number of years, with only five years under Goodluck Jonathan, making it deserving of another opportunity in 2027.
Meanwhile, Odeyemi attributed the ongoing crisis in the PDP to Atiku’s 2023 candidacy and his perceived ambition for 2027.
“The 2023 election was originally supposed to be between southerners, as former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, had just completed eight years in office. However, Atiku insisted on exercising his rights, which is why there is a crisis in the PDP,” he stated.
He urged Atiku to step aside, suggesting that his withdrawal from the 2027 race would ease tensions within the party.