As part of efforts to reposition the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of 2027 general elections, some leaders in the party have begun jostling for the control of the party structure as congresses are to hold in the majority of the states before August 2024.
Sources within the party who spoke with Goalpoacher News on the condition of anonymity declared that Governor Seyi Makinde has emerged as the beautiful bride for the party.
One of the sources who is a member of the National Working Committee of the opposition party from the South South geopolitical zone stated that if the party would make any impact in the 2027 presidential election, Seyi Makinde who is the Governor of Oyo State should be the party’s flag bearer.
Another source said for PDP to have a southern presidential candidate especially from the Southwest zone, the congresses to be held in most of the states between now and August would be controlled by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“Do we have any other valuable presidential candidate other than the performing Governor of Oyo State?
“There are others who are eminently qualified to be the presidential candidate of our great party but do they hold political office at the moment in which their achievements can be used as yardsticks for what they are clamouring for?
When asked if anyone in the party can stand the former Vice-president and 2019, 2023 presidential candidate of the party neck to neck for the soul of the party?
The source unambiguously declared that the congresses would determine if Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would still be politically relevant come 2027.
“Atiku has said he is going nowhere, we’ll send him somewhere and please ask me where? His political retirement (laughs).”
Another source from the Southwest stated that Governor Seyi Makinde had before now closed ranks with his brother Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and other leaders of the party in the zone.
“Well, I can tell you for a fact that Southwest PDP is now more united than the previous years.
“There is no division among us, the leader of the party in the zone, His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde has brought all warring factions together.
“The only candidate from the Southern region that can give President Bola Tinubu a run for his money in the next election is Governor Seyi Makinde.
“If he doesn’t win the PDP presidential primary election, we will persuade him to accept a running mate position.
“Let me burst your bubble, when all the States Congresses would have been concluded by mid 2025, Governor Seyi Makinde would be controlling 26 states if not more before going into the presidential primary in 2026.