By Ismaeel Aleem
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ignited a firestorm of criticism following its decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a move described by publisher and politician Dele Momodu as a strategic gift to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
In a statement issued yesterday, Momodu accused the PDP of succumbing to “cheap and puerile blackmail” orchestrated by individuals aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Momodu, who recently defected from PDP to African Democratic Congress (ADC), singled out FCT Minister Nyesom Wike as the architect behind the zoning decision, alleging it serves Tinubu’s 2027 ambitions.
READ ALSO: Dele Momodu resigns from PDP, joins ADC
“The hand was that of Wike while the voice was that of Tinubu,” Momodu declared, suggesting Wike is leveraging PDP structures to ensure Tinubu’s victory.
He described the zoning as a “done deal” to merge APC and PDP interests, accusing the former governor of Rivers State of issuing orders to “helpless governors” too weak to resist.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism for its timing and implications.
Momodu highlighted Wike’s alleged hypocrisy, noting that in 2022, Wike opposed zoning the PDP ticket to the South and even sought the vice-presidential slot under a northern candidate.
Momodu claimed Wike’s push for southern zoning is a calculated move to weaken the PDP’s opposition to Tinubu.
He also accused the party of abandoning Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the ongoing political crisis, betraying its own members.
Momodu dismissed speculations about potential southern PDP candidates, such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi, or Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, as “blatant lies from the pit of hell.”
He questioned the party’s rationale for zoning, referencing past political precedents.
“Where were these guys when President Musa Yar’Adua died, and no one fought for a northern replacement after Jonathan completed their term?” Momodu asked, pointing to inconsistencies in the PDP’s zoning arguments.
He also cited Tinubu’s 2023 Muslim/Muslim ticket as an example of selective outrage.
The controversy has deepened divisions within the PDP.
As the PDP grapples with internal strife, Momodu’s remarks underscore a growing perception that the party’s strategy may inadvertently bolster Tinubu’s re-election bid.
READ ALSO: Dele Momodu: Unity key for PDP to oust Tinubu in 2027
“The truth must not be selective,” Momodu said, urging the PDP to confront its contradictions head-on.
The PDP has yet to respond to Momodu’s allegations, but the zoning debate is likely to dominate political discourse as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections.
