Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has repeated his opposition to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, stating that if Atiku runs in the 2027 presidential election, he will work against him once more.
Fayose, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the announcement in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
“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 said.
He blamed the internal crisis currently facing the PDP on the party’s failure to adhere to its zoning arrangement, which he claimed was disregarded in favour of Atiku’s candidacy in the 2023 presidential election.
“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 stated. “Those who gave or zoned power back to the North caused all these problems.”
Fayose stressed the importance of respecting power rotation, even if informally agreed upon, arguing that the refusal to support a Southern candidate undermined the unity of the party.
“You don’t have to like a Nyesom Wike or a Peter Obi, but there should be an unwritten, respected gentleman understanding of powershift,” he said.