A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Lagos State, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, has described the party’s zoning arrangement ahead of 2027 general elections as a game changer.
Adeoye, a former House of Representatives aspirant in Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
NAN reports the former ruling party on Monday zoned its 2027 ticket to the South at its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
The PDP’s 102nd NEC meeting also retained the existing National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention.
Adeoye, Convener of Seyi Makinde Disciples (SMD), a support group for Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, said that zoning the party’s presidential ticket to the south remained “the only sure path for the PDP’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election in 2027.”
According to him, the arrangement will promote unity and progress in the party.
Adeoye said: “PDP is beginning to find its way back to stability owing to some of its recent decisions, especially during the 102nd NEC meeting in Abuja.
“The party will right a lot of wrongs at the Ibadan National Convention slated for Nov.15 and Nov.16, where brand new National Working Committee will emerge to manage the affairs of the party leading to 2027 and ahead.
“The party is taking bold steps and looking at various options that will give it an edge in the 2027 elections.”
The chieftain urged the party national leadership to redouble efforts towards bringing back those who had left the party .
He said that PDP still remained the strongest opposition party in Nigeria, adding that with harmony, unity, and inclusion, the party would certainly return to its” rightful place”in the country.
“PDP leaders have also been mobilising heavily with the poaching of former Governor of Kano, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, calling on them to return to their former party.
“The coming together and mobilisation of these gladiators will surely be a game changer for the PDP in 2027, not only at the presidential level ,but for other elective positions nationwide,” Adeoye added.
He said that PDP’s error of leaving its presidential ticket open in the build up to 2023 and eventual emergence of a Northern candidate after the eight years of northern presidency was responsible for its defeat in the election.
He said the step created a crisis in the party, leaving many chieftains to leave the party before the election.
The chieftain urged PDP to keep the unwritten power sharing agreement between the North and the South to promote inclusiveness and unity.
“It is only in 2031 that the party will be looking at fielding a Northern candidate when power is expected to return back to the North. Any party who goes against this principle does not mean well for Nigeria,” he said.
Adeoye described Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State governor as the best man for 2027,saying SMD would work assiduously to ensure his emergence.
