Olayinka, however, noted that decision vindicated FCT Minister, Wike and the G-5 governors.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Lere Olayinka, Media Aide to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said the decision of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its presidential ticket to the South in 2027 came too late.
He made this known in a statement he issued shortly after the decision was reached.
The PDP on Monday zoned the party’s presidential ticket to the southern part of the country in a bid to salvage the major opposition party.
It further announced that it has retained its chairmanship position to the north, while affirming Umar Damagum as the National Chairman, pending the party’s National Convention later in the year.
Addressing journalists after the NEC meeting held in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced that the decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.
Reacting to the pronouncement, Olayinka mocked PDP for ‘going back to its vomit”.
He also argued that the announcement vindicated the position his principal and members of the G-5 adopted in 2022.
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He recalled that Wike and the G-5 had insisted that both the presidential candidate and the National Chairman could not come from the same region.
“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!
“They have realized the mistake they made in 2022 and are correcting it in 2025.
“But is it not too late already, bearing in mind that the only way the zoning can be justified is for the South to conclude its eight years, while the presidency returns to the North in 2031?” Olayinka queried.
He further noted that the PDP leadership had now accepted the same principle the Minister fought for.
“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?” He asked.
In 2022, PDP threw its ticket open and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
This, however, led to a prolonged leadership crisis and prompted Wike, some governors, and a host of other members to revolt against the party and work against its presidential candidate.
