Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, indications have emerged that more Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the south will support President Bola Tinubu’s bid to secure a second term to keep the power rotation deal between the North and South geopolitical zones.
It was learnt that this will involve the defection of more PDP governors from the South to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Two PDP governors from the zone have held top stakeholder meetings in this regard recently, it was gathered.
Recall that while Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, moved to APC, Governor of Akwa Ibom State Umo Eno, recently declared that his resolve to defect to APC with the use of a faulty plane analogy.
So far, PDP has six governors in the South, namely, Senator Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); Engr Oluseyi Makinde (Oyo); Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Umo (Akwa Ibom); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Simnalayi Fubara (Rivers).
The South which has been PDP strong base since 2015 has been eroding.
It was learnt however that, one of the South South governors, who is serving his second term, met with top leaders of his ethnic group, last week, to consolidate plans to support Tinubu.
The meeting, it was learnt, was to smoothen grounds for his support for Tinubu which he might make known soon. The governor recently had a rough patch with some PDP members in his state.
The other south south governor, who has since declared support for the president’s second term, is said to be lobbying his immediate predecessor to join the pro-Tinubu wagon.
It was further learnt the former governor of the oil rich state was hesitant over joining his successor because of the former’s predecessor.
A source, who hinted LEADERSHIP about the top level meetings said “the PDP governors from the South are largely going to support Tinubu because of the North South power rotation.”
He said while some of the governors initially held reservations against Tinubu for the role he played in the ouster of President Goodluck Jonathan, “they have largely overlooked the past and are desirous of working to ensure the South completes its tenure just like former President Muhammadu Buhari was allowed to do for the North.”
The source noted that the continued stalemate over the PDP national secretary position and the anticipated friction that would arise over the party’s 2027 zoning arrangement has made some party stakeholders wary of the party’s prospect ahead of 2027, including the governors.
The PDP is expected to hold its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on May 27, amid controversies over who the recognised national secretary is.
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