PDP: Atiku’s Exit Opens Space For Other Northern Leaders – PDP Chieftain

Sunnex Egbu

12 hours ago

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, Abduljabbar Rufai, has stated that Atiku Abubakar’s dominance during the past primaries prevented other northern leaders from contesting under the party.

Rufai stated this in an interview with Vanguard, reacting to the resolution of the PDP National Executive Committee at its 102nd meeting on Monday, which zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

Naijaonpoint reports that the NEC also retained the current National Working Committee headed by Ambassador Umar Damagum.

Rufai noted that Atiku’s influence in PDP’s internal politics had long discouraged other northern aspirants.

He said, “For a long time, Atiku overshadowed other northern leaders during PDP primaries. Now that he has resigned of his own free will, there is space for others to step up. In the past, whatever Atiku said was what the North followed in PDP. That is no longer the case.”

The Kano PDP stalwart admitted that zoning the presidential ticket to the South could affect the party’s fortunes in some northern states.

“Of course, zoning the presidency to the South may affect PDP’s chances in parts of the North. But the APC will also be affected, especially if Atiku contests under the ADC. At the end of the day, it will depend on who emerges as the candidate after the primaries next year,” Rufai added.