The coast appears clear for the Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde to contest the nation’s highest office, the presidency following the decision by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to zone the position to the south.
Last week, the party announced that the position has been zoned to the south in line with the founding fathers’ gentleman agreement that the Presidency should rotate between the North and South.
This position, which runs contrary to what happened in the 2023 presidential election, which not a few regarded, as ‘a mortal sin’ committed by the party’s leadership that cost it the presidency, has opened the gate for Governor Makinde whose camp said has been eyeing the highest office in the country, as his tenure as governor will expire in 2027.
The PDP, had at the meeting also disclosed that the party’s next Convention will take place in Ibadan Oyo state, where the party is expected to elect new party officials at the state and National levels.
Debo Ologun Agba, the National Publicity Secretary of the party said after the party’s meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital that the zoning decision was arrived at after due consultations, and the need to uphold the power rotation ethos of its founding fathers.
“After carefully weighing the options, we agreed to adopt the founding fathers’ recommendation to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South. This is meant to rebuild trust among our southern members after the 2023 fallout.
“At the same time, we retained the existing zoning formula for national offices to prevent further conflict. It was a delicate compromise, but one we believe will help reposition the PDP ahead of the next election,” Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary said.
According to those watching the political trajectory of Governor Makinde, things appear to be working in his way, even though they insist that the journey to Nigerian Presidency is a very long walk, considering that the presidential election is still two years away.
Sources close to the camp of the governor informed the magazine that Makinde has decided to take the bold step to vie for the PDP presidential ticket following recent development in his party, particularly, the formal resignation of Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and PDP 2023 presidential candidate, from the party.
Abubakar, had two weeks ago, in a letter to his PDP ward in Adamawa state, informed the party that he has left the party citing the fact that the party has been ‘hijacked’ by money bags, apart from other challenges the leading opposition party in the country is currently facing, which he said he could no longer comfortable with.
Before now, the former vice president was considered by not a few in the nation’s political circles as the top contender for the PDP presidential ticket, having done so on three occasions even though he had failed to win the presidency.
Abubakar’s exit from the party has been predicted long ago by close watchers of events in the country, having been absent, for a long period, from the meetings of the party, and has failed to associate with it, making some in the party to conclude that his spirit has left the party for which he was among the founding fathers.
Earlier this month, Abubakar had joined other key opposition leaders in the country to adopt the ADC for their collective quest to wrestle power from President Tinubu and APC in 2027.
Those in the ADC apart from Abubakar are former Governors Nasir El Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi amongst others. Sources told the magazine that the reason why Abukaar moved into the ADC is not unconnected with the fact that the PDP presidential ticket was no longer feasible for him, and that the ADC presents him the lifetime opportunity to achieve his presidential ambition.
According to those keenly following the developments in the country, his departure from the PDP, has therefore, opened the door for Makinde and others in the party such as Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who will not contemplate running for President under the PDP, if Abubakar is still in the party.
For Mohammed, his presidential ambition may have been hampered, at least for now, analysts says considering that the PDP has already zoned the position to the south in line with its decision to ensure that the presidency remains in the south for another for years,thus creating an opportunity for Governor Makinde and other interested presidential candidates from the south who are prepared to tackle President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the position of Commander-in-chief.
Apart from Makinde, a former President Goodluck Jonathan, according to sources is being considered by some northern leaders in the PDP to contest, because of their plan to ensure that power return to the region in 2027.
Jonathan is the only presidential hopeful in PDP who cannot go beyond one term in office, because he’s statutorily barred having spent four years already as president between 2011 and 2015.
But Jonathan has yet to indicate whether he will run or not. His wife, Dame Peace Jonathan had recently declared support for President Tinubu, saying the Nigerian Presidency “is turn by turn”.
The former First Lady disclosed that she will campaign for Tinubu when the time comes, as she’s no longer interested in becoming the Wife of the President.
Those who know said she may have spoken the mind of the former president on the issue, considering the influence she has on the former Nigerian leader.
Patience: “I’m not running. I’m not going back to the Villa. If you call me, I will not go.
“Let my friend be there. Let me also ‘wahala’ her the way she used to ‘wahala’ me when I was there. “I believe in one president. I believe in turn-by-turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When it’s not your turn, step back – so that the country can move forward.”
In site of what patience said, some analysts told the magazine that the former president could still change his mind as the political development in the country unfolds ahead the 2027.
Presidential hopeful such as Peter of Obi, according to sources is planning to make a return back to the PDP to contest for its ticket. This is because of the leadership crisis in the Labour Party, under whose ticket he contested the presidency in 2023. LP has declared that its presidential ticket is no longer solely for Obi, who sources said is thinking of dumping the party due to the protracted crisis.
“Obi is confused at the moment on how to realise his presidential ambition despite his popularity among Nigerians. The ADC is not sure for him due to the Atiku’s factor, same with LP which has not hidden its animosity for the former Anambra governor. It push come to shove for him, particularly now that the PDP has decided to zone the Presidency to south, Obi could as well decide to try his luck. But he must decide fast as time is running out for him,” a source said.
Recall that a former Governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff said on Tuesday on Channels Television programme, Politics Today, that Obi was planning to return to the PDP.
“Information available to me is that any moment from now, Obi would go back to the PDP and run as a presidential candidate under the PDP,” Sheriff Said.
As part of his plans to ensure that he get a broad-based national support, Obi had recently declared that he will only spend one term of four years in office if elected, but his promise has been has divided Nigerians, considering the penchant of African leaders to hold on to power whenever they have the slightest opportunity.
In spite of all the permutations, sources in the PDP informed the magazine that no aspirant will be prevented from contesting for the party’s sole presidential ticket.
“The PDP, in spite of the zoning decision that the presidency must remain in the south, will however not stop any aspirant from contesting the PDP presidential primary in 2026, in line with the party’s democratic credential to allow for open and fair contest among eligible aspirants as it has done in the immediate past, whether you are from the south or North,” a source in the party said on Friday.
The source stressed that the only advantage Governor Makinde enjoys, is that he will have the support of many leaders from the party, including governors who are clamouring for power to remain in the south for now.
I will Run-Makinde
The Oyo state helmsman had recently said in an interview that he will make his intention for the presidency known soon, saying he’s “old enough’ and qualified to contest for the highest office in the country.
Reacting to reports that he’s eyeing the office, Makinde said “all I can say to you is, I’m old enough if I want to do something, I will come out and say, this is what I want to do.
“So, no speculation, nobody can push my agenda. I will push my agenda when the time comes.”
Indeed, the engineer-turned politician, according to close sources in the PDP and political circles in the country, particularly in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital is among top leaders in the party eligible for the party’s ticket, considering the key roles he has been playing in the party after the 2023 presidential election which the party lost.
“Governor Makinde has been making undercurrent moves, to ensure that things work in his favour, he has been making friends across the country, building consensus among key leaders in the party, waiting for the right time to make his moves,” another sources said.
“Apart from “having a hand shake’ across the Niger with other political leaders in the country, particularity from the PDP, he has been one of the major financiers of the party , alongside the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former vice President Atiku Abubakar. But since the leadership crisis that has rocked the party started, both Wike and Atiku have somehow withdrew their support, leaving Makinde and other PDP Governors to carry the ‘load’; but many of us know that Makinde pays most of the bill,” the source stated.
Recall that Makinde and Wike were once political allies, until both went their separate ways due to the crisis that plagued the party, over who should be the PDP National Secretary between Sam Anyanwu and Sunday Ude Okoye, a former National Youth Leader of the party. The FCT minister had recently blamed Makinde for the crisis in the party, calling him a betrayal.
Another reliable source in the party said Makinde has also ensured that his allies occupy key positions in the party “waiting for the best time to make his moves, when the time is ripe” to make his move on the Presidency.
“For instance, Makinde ensured that Taofeek Arapaja, his ally and a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state became the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, aside from ensuring that other zonal positions are occupied by his close allies. Those he has helped to positions in the party will not fail to ‘rob his back’ when the time comes,” the sources stated.
According other sources in the party, who spoke with the magazine Makinde is being seen, by some leaders in the party as the “clear” leader following the ‘subterfuge’ actions of the FCT minister which they consider to be anti-party and detrimental to the overall interest of the party ahead the next election in the country.
“What do you call a situation where a prominent leader of the party of Wike status saying he will work for the emergence of President Tinubu in 2027. He’s simply saying PDP presidential aspirants should go to hell because he wants to support his principal for making him the FCT minister. Even though there’s nothing wrong in reciprocating a good gesture, the manner he’s blatantly going about it has disqualified him as a good leader that supporters of the party should look up to ahead the 2027 election that PDP is working tirelessly to win,” the source said.
On the other hand, Governor Makinde has stayed with the party through thick and thin despite all the crisis, backing it up with his financial war chest, despite the fact that he’s not the only PDP governor.
“He has put his mouth where his money is by financing the activities of the party at both the national and state levels, the party will not hesitate to reward the favour when the time comes. The party has no reason not to back him if he decides to vie for its sole ticket for the 2027 presidential election,” the source stated.
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