A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Mr Femi Babalola, has declared that Governor Seyi Makinde has what it takes to contest for and clinch the party’s presidential ticket in 2027.
The PDP at its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
Speaking in Ibadan after inspecting a project he donated to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Babalola described Makinde as “a fresh breath with fresh ideas” which he said the PDP urgently needs.
According to him, the governor can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and emerge as the party’s flagbearer in the 2027 general election.
Babalola maintained that by 2027, Makinde would have completed eight years as governor, which would give him an edge over other contenders.
“Governor Makinde has performed creditably well, though there may be some deficiencies. Nobody in the world can score 100 per cent in governance. I think he has done very well compared to past governors in the state. So he is more than qualified to win the presidential ticket of our party,” he said.
On the PDP’s decision to zone the ticket to the South, Babalola said: “If the party felt that the game was to present a southern candidate, it is good for the party. I am in full support of the decision, as the election will now be South versus South, with the PDP having strength in the North.”
Asked whether he would contest for governor of Oyo State in 2027, Babalola said he was still assessing the political field.
He stated: “I’m watching the aspirants that are coming out to show interest in contesting for the governorship position in Oyo State. If I’m not satisfied as a person with the calibre of the aspirants, I might be forced to contest in 2027.
“Though contesting for governor in 2027 is not in my front burner, I think the state deserves a governor that has deep knowledge of the state after Governor Makinde’s tenure.
“I will not support a candidate taking advantage of the party. I will rather support a candidate that is beneficial and fair to the party, because there are members of the party that have suffered with the party. Oyo State is a PDP state right from 2003, and there has never been a time where the state is ruled by a party without connivance from PDP members.”
Kemi Olaitan
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