[2023 Presidency] ‘Awa ‘South’ lo kan’: Fayose sparks defection rumours with social media post, withdraws support for PDP’s Atiku

Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has insisted that power must return to the South in 2023, thus dumping Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his party’s presidential candidate.

Fayose in a twitter post on Wednesday, noted that since President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, will be completing eight years in 2023, it is only logical for power to return to the South.

“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING,” Fayose wrote. “Awa ‘South’ lo kan’. Nigerians should await details soon.”

The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING. Awa ‘South’ lo kan’. Nigerians should await details soon.

— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) June 29, 2022

The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the Party shall pursue its aims & objectives by "adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of Party & Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity,justice and fairness."

— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) June 29, 2022

Newsclickng.com reports that the popular ‘Emi lo kan’ (a Yoruba word meaning ‘I am next in line’) phrase was used by presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State in the build up to the party primaries.

PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a northerner from Adamawa State, Northeast.

Fayose’s remark suggests he won’t be backing the former vice president and has prompted speculations about his impending defection to the APC.