The Traffic

"2027 Power Play: Pro-Wike PDP Faction Pushes for Makinde as Presidential Candidate"

Yakubu Haruna Yakubu 

The political landscape within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is heating up as reports suggest that key party figures are shifting their support towards Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election. This move is seen as an effort to sideline former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has run for president multiple times without success.

Sources within the party have revealed that bigwigs loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, are actively campaigning for Makinde’s candidacy. These figures, frustrated with Atiku’s previous runs, are determined to ensure that the party does not grant him another opportunity to contest.

The shift comes just a week after a peace deal was brokered between different factions of the PDP, but it seems that some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are not fully convinced by Atiku’s leadership. They argue that the former vice president’s reluctance to reconcile with the powerful G-5 governors, led by Wike, during the 2023 election contributed to the party’s loss.

One source lamented, “Atiku missed a golden opportunity in 2023. His refusal to make peace with the five aggrieved governors cost us the presidency. We cannot allow him to experiment with the PDP every four years.”

The growing support for Makinde, a younger and more dynamic candidate, is based on his track record as a governor and his ability to connect with both the youth and the elderly. PDP insiders believe that the party’s future lies with a candidate like Makinde, especially given Atiku’s age and perceived lack of political momentum.

Makinde himself has not shied away from the possibility of running in 2027, recently stating that he is more than qualified to contest. However, he has urged Nigerians to focus on the present challenges facing the country, rather than speculating about the future.

Meanwhile, Atiku’s camp has brushed off the growing support for Makinde, insisting that they are not under any pressure. Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, dismissed the rumors, saying, “We are concerned about the welfare of Nigerians, not about 2027.”

With the race for 2027 already taking shape, it remains to be seen whether the PDP will rally behind a new face in Seyi Makinde or continue to support Atiku in his bid to return to power.