Politics

PDP Leaders Dump Atiku, Back Seyi Makinde for 2027 Presidential Race

Published

1 month ago

Oct 22, 2024.

Key figures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are reportedly shifting their support from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential elections.

This development follows a recent effort by PDP governors to mediate peace among warring factions within the party.

Despite attempts to solidify unity, sources close to the PDP National Working Committee, particularly those aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have hinted at a growing preference for Makinde’s candidacy.

The move is seen as a strategic effort to challenge Atiku’s potential nomination, with some party members labeling him a “serial contestant.”

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According to reports from Punch, some party leaders are still resentful towards Atiku over his handling of the 2023 election campaign, particularly his failure to reconcile with a group of five disgruntled governors, who had demanded the resignation of former national chairman Iyorchia Ayu. This internal conflict weakened the party during the election period.

This group of governors, including Wike, Makinde, and former governors Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Benue, Enugu, and Abia states, respectively, had opposed Atiku’s candidacy in the last election cycle.

One source commented, “Every election cycle, Atiku gets the presidential ticket, only to squander it. Look at the mess he caused in 2023 by refusing to make peace with the G-5 governors.”

Critics within the party also worry that Atiku, due to his age, may no longer be a viable candidate for 2027. Many believe that a younger, more vibrant candidate like Makinde, who has demonstrated leadership and connects well with both younger and older generations, would be a stronger choice.

“The time has come to try a candidate from the Southwest,” said one NWC member. “Makinde is young, dynamic, and represents a fresh approach. If we pair him with a strong northern candidate, we’ll be in a good position.”

When asked about rumors that Atiku might collaborate with Labour Party leader Peter Obi, a PDP chieftain indicated that Obi had not yet decided to leave the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, Makinde has expressed confidence in his qualifications for the presidency but has stated that he will officially announce his intentions when the time is right. Speaking during a visit to Fashola Farm in Oyo, he dismissed speculations about his political future and cautioned Nigerians against allowing the country to slide into a one-party state.

Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, downplayed the reports of pressure over Makinde’s potential candidacy. He emphasized that their priority is addressing Nigeria’s current economic challenges, rather than focusing on the 2027 elections.

Shaibu remarked, “Who is threatened? While some are already discussing 2027, we are focused on how Nigerians will survive the present economic hardship. We are not concerned with their political games.”

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