Step Aside For The Youth! PDP, LP Chieftains Caution Atiku Against 2027 Bid

A member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Diran Odeyemi, and Labour Party chieftain, Anslem Eragbe, have cautioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against running for the presidency in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Eragbe criticized Atiku’s 2023 candidacy, arguing that power should have shifted to the South. He maintained that the presidency should remain in southern Nigeria until 2031, emphasizing that the South-South region deserves the next slot, having held power for the shortest period.

According to Eragbe, Atiku, having served as Vice President for eight years, understands Nigeria’s power-sharing dynamics and should step aside to support younger leaders. He urged political parties to prioritize credibility over financial influence when selecting candidates for 2027, stating it is an opportunity to correct past imbalances.

He said, “Atiku should not have contested in 2023 as it was the South’s turn. The presidency should be further micro-zoned to the former Mid-Western region—Edo and Delta States—for the sake of equity, justice, and fairness.”

He added that if President Bola Tinubu wins re-election in 2027, power should return to the North in 2031. He further noted that among all regions, the South-South has held the presidency for the least amount of time, with just five years under Goodluck Jonathan.

Similarly, Odeyemi attributed the ongoing crisis in the PDP to Atiku’s participation in the 2023 election and his rumored 2027 ambitions. He asserted that Atiku’s withdrawal from the race would resolve the party’s internal strife.

He said, “The 2023 election should have been between southern candidates, as former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, had just completed eight years in office. However, Atiku insisted on contesting, which is why the PDP remains in crisis.”