- Safiu Kehinde
Osun State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has held that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remain undeterred with the mass defection ravaging the party while stressing that President Bola Tinubu will be facing hungry Nigerians and not the PDP at the 2027 General Election.
Makinde stated this while speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected PDP South Zonal Executives in Ibadan on Wednesday.
Reacting to the concerns of mass defection in the party, the Oyo governor said the PDP will remain unbothered until hunger decamped to the APC.
He held that the 2027 election will be determined by Nigerians who have made hungry on account of the country’s economic hardship.
“People have been asking us as leaders of this party. A lot of people are decamping. Even a governor has decamped and then some other governors are threatening to decamp. And they said look, where is this party going? But I have good news.
“I said to the people that we will not be bothered until hunger has decamped to the other party. The day hunger decamped, they should come and tell us and then we will know what to do because there is hunger in the land.
“Majority of the people that are hungry will determine what 2027 will look like. So, don’t bother. If anybody like, let them decamp. We will stay with the people of Nigeria.” Makinde said.
The governor further noted that the PDP remains the strongest political institution in Nigeria.
He recounted how the PDP had stand the test of time since losing power in 2015.
The governor also recounted his emergence as the state governor despite the crisis within the party.
“And finally, I’ve heard analysis where they said PDP has been building strong men but not strong institution. I beg to differ. PDP lost power at the Federal level in 2015. But PDP did not die. After PDP lost power in 2015, I read an article then in 2017 that PDP and its coat of many crisis in Oyo state. After that crisis, we won the election in Oyo state under PDP.” He said.
While urging the PDP southwest stakeholders to ignore reports projected against the party, Makinde threw shades at the APC, stressing that they have no structure in the Southwest and have had only had one National Executive Council (NEC) meeting since Tinubu assumed power.
He reiterated that the President will.be faced by hungry Nigerians who will determine his fate in 2027.
“They will sponsor so many stories against the party. Please do not be discouraged. PDP is the only party in Nigeria with very strong institution.
“Have you heard about APC having a Southwest exco? Mark my word, after this my speech, they will quickly go and do Southwest congress.
“This is a party that only has its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting once since the advent of this current administration.
“PDP, I believe, the next one we are having is the 300th NEC. So, PDP is the only party in Nigeria with a very strong institution.
“So, hold on to the party. And I will repeat again that 2027 is not going to be APC versus PDP. It is going to be APC versus the people that are hungry in Nigeria.” Makinde added.