Dele Momodu, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has issued a warning that the political position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be fortified as a result of the ongoing disagreements regarding zoning in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election, as reported by The Sun on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
He observed that the present state of the debate could potentially impact the overall electoral competitiveness and unity of the opposition.
During an appearance on Politics Today, Momodu emphasised the importance of political actors in the opposition concentrating on the development of strategy and consensus rather than regional rotation discussions.
He insisted that the primary objective of any organization that aspires to challenge the incumbent president should be to develop a unified strategy that can unify support from various regions.
He also stated that, in his opinion, the opposition could more effectively mount a significant challenge to Tinubu’s re-election bid by presenting a candidate from the northern region.
He believes that this action has the potential to realign political calculations and bolster the opposition’s bargaining position in anticipation of the election.
Momodu also underscored the fact that the northern region of Nigeria continues to be a significant and influential voting constituency in the electoral process.
He clarified that the capacity of the region’s voting strength to considerably influence the outcome of a presidential contest if it is unified behind a single candidate, making it a critical factor in any national political strategy.
Additionally, he appealed to political figures from the southern region who are interested in running for the presidency, such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
He encouraged them to engage in urgent discussions with the objective of achieving a consensus agreement that would prevent the fragmentation of political support within the South.
He also observed that such an arrangement could entail one of the aspirants resigning in favour of another candidate who is capable of securing a broader base of support throughout the region and beyond.
He argued that the collective strength of southern contenders could be weakened and their prospects of success in a competitive national race could be diminished due to a lack of coordination.
He stated, “I would recommend that the southern candidates convene as soon as possible, and it is possible that they will withdraw in favour of Jonathan or Peter Obi.”