A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Tokunbo Pearse, has dismissed insinuations that the party may withdraw from the 2027 presidential race or work for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Pearse, who is also the Convener of Reset Lagos PDP, in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, described the claims as mere propaganda pushed by President Bola Tinubu’s camp to weaken the opposition.

He said, “Have you ever seen a situation where a presidential candidate steps down for another presidential candidate from another party, anywhere in the world, in any time of history? I’m sorry to say, but that’s a stupid idea. It’s a senseless idea, it’s illogical, and it’s totally nonsensical. It doesn’t make sense, so forget about that.”

He stressed that the opposition party would field a strong candidate in 2027 despite zoning the ticket to the South at its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

Pearse argued that Tinubu’s camp was jittery over the prospect of a Yoruba candidate emerging from the PDP, particularly Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Pearse said, “Makinde is a younger man, Makinde is ambitious, Makinde has done fantastic work in Oyo. What they are afraid of and Tinubu and co know, is that if a Yoruba man comes into this race against him, he is likely to defeat him.”

According to him, only a Yoruba challenger could significantly dent Tinubu’s support base in the South-West.

He said, “Imagine if Obi comes into the race against Tinubu, South-West is not likely to support him. You know the prejudice in Nigeria, and if South-West doesn’t support you in the South, you cannot go far.

“South-West is where Tinubu got 2.5 million votes in 2023 and if the Southwesterners go against him, those 2.5 million votes are gone, at least they would split it. And once they split for Tinubu in the South-West and then the support for Tinubu in the North is dwindling every day, Tinubu is finished.”

Pearse stated that Governor Makinde, if given the PDP ticket, stood the best chance of unseating Tinubu.

“He knows that it’s only a Yoruba person, a South-West candidate, that can defeat him. And if Makinde gets the ticket, he would surely defeat him,” he added.