Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dele Momodu has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar conditioned his 2023 presidential bid on the party zoning its ticket to the Southeast, a proposal allegedly rejected by a committee led by ex-Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike. Speaking on Arise News, Momodu asserted that Wike’s committee opted for an open contest, thwarting Atiku’s push for regional equity.
Momodu explained that Wike, advocating for a Southern candidate post-Buhari’s tenure, opposed Southeast zoning after distancing himself from the Igbo identity, declaring himself a South-South native. This stance, Momodu claimed, led to Peter Obi’s exit from the PDP, clearing the path for Wike to angle for the vice-presidential slot under Atiku. “Wike’s committee opened the ticket, enabling my own presidential form purchase,” Momodu noted, adding that Atiku had sought to prioritize the Southeast to honor rotational equity.
Critiquing narratives about PDP’s North-South imbalance, Momodu highlighted the party’s history: Southern presidents (Obasanjo, Jonathan) ruled for 13 of Nigeria’s 24 democratic years. He accused Wike of hypocrisy, alleging the former governor prioritized personal ambition over regional fairness while later seeking to be Atiku’s running mate. “Why didn’t PDP pick Wike as VP if he championed Southern interests?” Momodu questioned, challenging Wike to deny his VP aspirations. The fallout, he argued, exposed PDP’s internal fractures and strategic missteps ahead of the 2023 elections.
