Public Affairs Analyst and Convener of Reset Lagos PDP, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse has shed light on the internal crisis that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 elections, pointing to the issue of zoning as the major cause of rebellion within the party.
Speaking in an interview on TVC News, Dr. Pearse emphasized that the leadership structure of the PDP created discontent among some governors and stakeholders, especially over the dominance of northern interests.
According to him, the combination of both the presidential candidate and the national chairman of the party emerging from the North was a key factor behind the resistance led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and others.
“Our presidential candidate will not come from the North and our national chairman from the North. That’s what caused the problem in 2023 when Wike and some other governors decided that this will not stand. It’s not as if we wanted Atiku to leave,” Pearse explained.
He argued that the PDP failed to respect its long-standing tradition of balancing power between the North and the South, a principle designed to give every region a sense of belonging. The neglect of this understanding, he said, undermined party unity and fueled the revolt that weakened PDP’s chances at the polls.
Dr. Pearse stressed that if the party is to remain competitive in future elections, it must return to its zoning formula and ensure equity in leadership distribution. He added that ignoring this principle not only alienates members but also emboldens internal opposition.
The 2023 election exposed deep divisions in the PDP, with the G5 governors, led by Wike, openly challenging the party’s leadership structure and refusing to back its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
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