Let the South Lead – Ex-Lawmaker Pressures Atiku to Bow Out of 2027 PDP Contest

Ex-Lawmaker Blames PDP Crisis on Selfish Interests, Urges Atiku to Step Aside for Southern Candidate

Former House of Representatives member, Tajudeen Yusuf, has blamed the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the inability of some party leaders to place the party’s unity above their personal political ambitions.

Yusuf, who previously represented the Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, said in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily that the root of the division within the party lies in the prioritization of individual interests over collective goals.

Addressing the future of the PDP and the role of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Yusuf noted that Atiku’s repeated pursuit of the party’s presidential ticket in the last two elections has undermined the PDP’s internal balance. He called on Atiku to step aside and support the return of the party’s original zoning arrangement.

“If I had my way, I would advise former Vice President Atiku to relinquish his bid for the PDP ticket and allow it to go to the South. Even if we don’t win the presidential election, at least we would have shown commitment to our founding principle of zoning party positions,” Yusuf stated.

He stressed that such a gesture would help rebuild confidence in the PDP, particularly in the South-South and South-East regions, which have historically served as the party’s strongholds.

“The South-South and South-East have been the backbone of the PDP. When a candidate is consistently chosen from the same region, it breeds discouragement and loss of hope among others. Everyone wants a fair shot at reaching the top,” he said.

Yusuf warned that this sense of exclusion fuels frustration among party faithful and deepens internal rifts.

The PDP has been facing growing instability since the 2023 general elections, leading to a wave of defections by key figures, including governors and lawmakers, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Most recently, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, former governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other influential party leaders in the state officially joined the APC.

Reflecting on the situation, Yusuf described the turmoil as self-inflicted, accusing PDP governors of deliberately letting the crisis escalate to justify their eventual defection.