Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Ekiti State Kehinde Agboola has accused former state governor Ayodele Fayose of dividing the party by pushing for a southern presidential election in 2023.
Agboola claims that while there is nothing wrong with a southern president, Fayose’s demand came at the wrong time and is unnecessarily agitating the party.
He claimed that after taking part in the PDP presidential primaries, which unmistakably produced Atiku Abubakar, Fayose abruptly changed his tune and began clamoring for the presidency of the south.
2023: Atiku Finally Reacts As Fayose Calls For Southern Presidency
He stated that there should have been more commotion prior to the emergence of a party candidate rather than following it.
“Imagine our leader (Fayose) wanting a southern presidential candidate overnight, when he was an aspirant in a primary conducted on a level playing field, but after having a candidate, suddenly he prefers a southerner, indirectly creating confusion,” the former member of the House of Representatives said in an interview with Newsmen.
In answer to a subsequent query, the former congressman stated that Fayose is the only one advocating for a southern president after the party’s nominee had already been chosen.
“Despite the emergence of Atiku from the North, some pro-Wike forces including Fayose are saying the President must be from the South…
“It’s only Governor Fayose, not pro-Wike. I don’t know any other person that is saying so apart from Fayose. We listened to others including Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, nobody else said that,” he added.
2023: Atiku Finally Reacts As Fayose Calls For Southern Presidency
For him individually, Agboola however stated that he is with the decision of the party as that is what democracy is about.
He said: “I stand with the party primary that was done. If Fayose won that primary, I would have been happy. If Wike won, I would have been happy but Atiku won, I am also happy because it was clear that everybody there saw it, which is the beauty of democracy.”
Days after the PDP presidential primaries, according to Anaedoonline.ng, Fayose said he might not support Atiku Abubakar, the nominee of his party.
On Wednesday, June 29, the former governor of Ekiti State dropped the hint in a message on his verified Twitter account.
After Muhammadu Buhari served two terms as president, it was Fayose’s turn to produce Nigeria’s next leader.
Fayose: My Next Ambition Is To Be Prophet Or Nigerian President
It’s the turn of the south or nothing, Fayose declared, using a Yoruba phrase increasingly associated with Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate.
Fayose wrote: “The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the Party shall pursue its aims & objectives by “adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of Party & Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.
“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING.
“Awa ‘South’ lo kan.’ Nigerians should await details soon.”
In another interview, Fayose while insisting on his position said he doesn’t mind if PDP expels him because of his stand.
2023: Fayose Begs PDP For Presidential Ticket To Defeat Tinubu
He said, “What I am saying is, it is the turn of the South, and if they want to expel me, to hell with them. I am not taking money from anyone to belong to this party.
“If they want to rock this boat, we will help them to rock it.”
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