Aare Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says President Bola Tinubu should peacefully vacate office if he loses the 2027 election to the opposition.
In a post on X on Thursday, Momodu dismissed claims that the PDP had insisted on zoning the presidency to the north after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010.
“There was never a zoning. Yar’Adua died but PDP never insisted on power remaining in the North. Jonathan could have governed for a total of 9 years if he defeated Buhari in 2015,” Momodu wrote.
He argued that since 1999, the south has had more years in power, citing Olusegun Obasanjo’s eight years, Goodluck Jonathan’s five years, and Tinubu’s expected four years by 2027, making a total of 17 years. He said the north, by contrast, would have had 11 years.
“If Tinubu wins fair and square in 2027, so be it, and if opposition beats him black and blue, he should please go back home, in peace,” he added.
Momodu’s remarks have sparked debate online, with some users pointing out that the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the north in 2019 when Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s candidate.
Others argued that zoning has always been fluid in Nigerian politics, depending on party interests at the time.
The debate over zoning and rotation of power remains a contentious issue as the country heads towards another presidential contest in 2027.
COURTESY: PoliticsNigeria
