The political drums are already beating ahead of the 2027 elections, and once again, Nyesom Wike is right at the center of the action. Speaking with his usual boldness, the former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has made it clear: the North should forget about producing the next presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, never one to mince words, declared during a recent event in Abuja that it’s high time the South takes its rightful place in the party’s 2027 presidential plans.
“Let nobody deceive themselves. In 2027, the PDP presidential ticket must go to the South,” he said, emphasizing that after years of northern leadership, justice and balance demand a shift in power.
This isn’t the first time Wike has championed the call for equity within the PDP. Back in 2023, he was a leading voice demanding that the party respect zoning and give the South a fair shot—something that didn’t happen, as the ticket ultimately went to Atiku Abubakar from the North.
Now, Wike is warning against repeating that mistake.
“You can’t keep talking about unity, fairness, and inclusion while sidelining an entire region,” he argued. “The South—especially the South-South and South-East—has been loyal to the PDP through thick and thin. We deserve a chance.”
Although he stopped short of naming a preferred candidate, Wike made it clear that the southern part of the country, particularly zones that have consistently delivered votes for the PDP, should be rewarded, not ignored.
His comments are already stirring reactions within the party. Some insiders say it’s a not-so-subtle message to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who many believe is planning another run. Others see it as Wike positioning himself—or someone he backs—for the 2027 contest.
But not everyone agrees with Wike’s stance. A senior PDP figure from the North, speaking off the record, said the party’s focus should be on choosing a strong candidate capable of winning, not on zoning.
“We have to be strategic. The APC won’t give up power easily,” the source said.
Still, many grassroots supporters—especially in the southern states—are applauding Wike’s boldness. To them, he’s voicing what they’ve long felt: that the South’s loyalty to the PDP has been taken for granted for too long.
With this early shot fired, one thing is clear: the battle for the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket is already heating up. And as usual, Wike is right in the thick of it—loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically southern.
Is he nursing a presidential ambition?
maybe