ABUJA – Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has once again declared his firm opposition to any future presidential bid by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying he would actively campaign against him if he contests in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Fayose, a key figure within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cited the party’s failure to respect its zoning principle as the root cause of its internal crisis.
“I publicly worked against Atiku, and I am saying for the second time, if Atiku comes again, I will work against him. It is time to learn our lesson,” Fayose stated emphatically.
He pointed to what he described as the PDP’s disregard for power rotation, arguing that the decision to field Atiku, a northerner, in the 2023 presidential race—after another northerner had served eight years—was a major misstep.
“After eight years of a Northerner, it is the turn of a Southerner, which could involve someone from the East, South West or South South,” he explained. “Those who gave or zoned power back to the North caused all these problems.”
Fayose stressed that even informal agreements on power shift must be honoured to maintain party unity. He referenced the roles played by politicians like Nyesom Wike and Peter Obi, noting that personal preferences should not override broader principles of fairness.
“You don’t have to like a Nyesom Wike or a Peter Obi, but there should be an unwritten, respected gentleman understanding of power shift,” he said.
His latest comments are expected to intensify discussions within the PDP, as the party continues to grapple with internal divisions and strategizes for the next general election cycle.
