Dele Momodu: Zoning debate is blackmail to weaken opposition

Former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has dismissed the zoning of presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 elections as a form of political blackmail designed to weaken opposition parties.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Momodu argued that zoning was unconstitutional and deliberately crafted to reduce competition against President Bola Tinubu.

“There is nothing in the Nigerian Constitution that stops anyone, whether northerner or southerner, from contesting,” he said.

“This sentiment is simply blackmail to keep other parties down.

“Once all opposition parties are forced to zone to the South, none can realistically defeat Asiwaju.”

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the zoning narrative, warning that opposition parties would be disadvantaged if they failed to throw their tickets open.

On the state of the PDP, Momodu declared that the party had been “hijacked by agents of the ruling party” and was beyond rescue.

“PDP is at a dead end.

“It has been reduced to a cadaver room—kept alive artificially for the benefit of those sabotaging it from within. That is why I left,” he said.

Now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Momodu clarified that the party had not promised any candidate, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, an automatic ticket for 2027.

The zoning controversy was reignited after the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) resolved on August 25 to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while retaining the chairmanship in the North, a move party leaders said was to stabilise the party.

Critics, however, argue that the decision could further weaken the PDP against the APC, which has already adopted President Tinubu as its 2027 flagbearer.