*Chides ex-VP for still nursing ambition
Dr. Umar Ardo, a cousin and erstwhile Special Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding a northern presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
He also advised the PDP to allow the suspended National Chairman, Uche Secondus, to complete his tenure of office, which expires on December 9.
Ardo said he believes in the THISDAY Economic Intelligence Report, which predicts that PDP will make an impact in the 2023 presidential election, if it fields a southerner as its presidential candidate.
“Let the truth be told, the PDP has no numerical strength in the North. The strength of the PDP is in the South. If the PDP nominates a northern presidential candidate and the APC nominates a southern presidential candidate from the south, it is a foregone victory for the APC.
“The PDP despite having governors in Benue, Taraba, Sokoto, Adamawa and Bauchi states, it cannot equate it with numerical voting strength in the north,” he said.
The former aide to Atiku tackled his former boss for insisting to contest in 2023, stating that apart from Adamawa State where the former vice president won in the 2019 presidential election, there is no State in the North he won convincingly in the last general election.
He said in 2007, “PDP fielded President Umaru Yar’adua; Action Congress fielded Atiku, while ANPP fielded Buhari – all northerners from the three major political parties. In 2019, PDP fielded Atiku and APC fielded Buhari and the heavens did not fall. He who goes to equity must go with good conscience.”
Ardo argued that since Atiku has been contesting presidential elections after he retired from the services of the Nigeria Customs Service, it was only in Adamawa State that he won.
He said:”It is a political fool-hardy and miscalculation for the PDP to field Atiku or any northern presidential candidate and think that it will win the 2023 election. Mark my words. It is impossible and political suicidal mission, if the APC will nominate a southern presidential candidate.
“If the APC nominates a southern presidential candidate, the PDP will not have a chance, even in the North,” he added.