Ayodele Fayose, the former Governor of Ekiti State, has publicly called on ex-Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to stop participating in future elections across Nigeria. Fayose expressed his concerns during an interview on Channels TV on Sunday, where he downplayed the chances of his party, the PDP, and Atiku as its candidate being able to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Fayose's remarks come in light of Atiku's previous unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, having run in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, with three of those attempts ending in losses during party primaries. Despite the controversies surrounding the PDP, Atiku has indicated that he may consider another presidential bid in 2027. In an interview with Voice of America Hausa earlier this year, the 77-year-old politician stated, “God willing,” when asked if he would run again.
However, Fayose voiced strong opposition to the idea of Atiku continuing his political ambitions. While discussing the ongoing crisis within the PDP on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, he urged Atiku to refrain from contesting elections any further. He emphasized that by the time President Bola Tinubu completes his term, Atiku will likely be 80 or 81 years old, questioning the appeal of such a candidacy.
He articulated, “We should leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. I respect him, and I think Nigerians are craving for a younger generation than ever before, so on what basis will Atiku come and contest again?” Fayose lamented the leadership crisis currently plaguing the PDP, suggesting that party members feel as though they no longer have a cohesive organization to rally behind.
“As I always say, we can defeat the APC, but when we don’t have a party again, how can we defeat them?” he queried. He pointed out that when criticisms are leveled against the APC and the PDP struggles with internal conflicts, it raises questions about the party's viability. He noted, “but when Obi is the voice of the opposition now.” He added that media outlets now often turn to Peter Obi for commentary rather than the PDP, highlighting a significant shift in the political landscape.
Fayose criticized the current state of the party, pointing out issues such as the Publicity Secretary suspending members, which further erodes the party's unity and effectiveness. He concluded by questioning, “so where is the party?” This underscores the challenges facing the PDP as it navigates a complicated political environment and strives to remain relevant in the face of formidable opponents like the APC.
