PDP Leaders Consult Elder Statesman Obasanjo on Path to 2027
A significant delegation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently convened with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a pivotal move aimed at strategizing for the party’s potential resurgence and return to power in the upcoming 2027 general elections. The meeting, held at Obasanjo’s penthouse residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, underscored the party’s commitment to seeking guidance from its elder statesmen.
Leading the delegation was the factional Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, SAN. He was accompanied by several key figures within the party’s new leadership, including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara. Also present were the National Secretary and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja; former governors of Niger and Plateau states, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu and Senator Jonah Jang, respectively; and Dr. Wole Oluyede, the party’s governorship candidate for an upcoming gubernatorial election, among other prominent members.
The closed-door consultation with former President Obasanjo spanned approximately 40 minutes and focused on the current political landscape, the state of democracy in Nigeria, and the PDP’s internal affairs.
Obasanjo’s Counsel: Discipline as the Bedrock of Party Administration
Following the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ini Ememobong, shared insights into the former president’s key advice. Obasanjo reportedly stressed the paramount importance of maintaining strict discipline within the party as a crucial safeguard for its future. He emphasized that discipline serves as the fundamental pillar for effective party administration and warned that indiscipline could lead to the undoing of all efforts.
“It was a consultative meeting where we looked at the state of the nation, the state of democracy and the state of affairs,” Ememobong stated. “We had very fruitful discussions, and he tasked us to carry on and soldier on, but we should keep discipline as the core of our party administration. He practically and particularly said that we can’t allow indiscipline; that indiscipline destroys everything.”
The party leadership assured the former president that his counsel would be taken to heart. They pledged to reinforce internal discipline and ensure that all members adhere strictly to the PDP’s rules and values, thereby fortifying the party’s unity and credibility. Ememobong further elaborated, “As you can see, the party is already on the path of discipline. If people act in ways that do not conform with discipline, we draw their attention to it because indiscipline is a destroyer.”
The Gargantuan Task of Dislodging the Incumbent
Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, SAN, articulated the delegation’s purpose, stating that their visit was to secure Obasanjo’s support and guidance for the “gargantuan task” of unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. Turaki lauded the former president as a highly experienced elder statesman whose legacy in building strong institutions significantly contributed to democratic growth in Nigeria.
As the new leadership of the opposition party, having recently assumed their roles, they felt it imperative to draw from Obasanjo’s extensive wisdom and seek his blessings for the success of their administration. Turaki acknowledged that the mission to oust the APC government in 2027, citing alleged incompetence and maladministration, would be a formidable challenge. However, the frank and insightful discussions with Obasanjo instilled a renewed sense of optimism, suggesting that the task, while difficult, is not insurmountable.
PDP’s Battle Readiness and Future Aspirations
Turaki declared the PDP to be “battle-ready for 2027.” He indicated that this readiness would soon be evident through the party’s anticipated victories in upcoming gubernatorial elections, specifically mentioning the reclamation of Ekiti and Osun states.
“PDP is battle-ready for 2027, and as a mark of our readiness, we shall take over Ekiti State and follow it up with Osun State,” Turaki asserted. “By the time we win these two states, we shall leave no one in doubt that the PDP is once again on the move and on the rise to chase out the APC government with all its incompetence and maladministration in 2027.”
Addressing party members at the state secretariat later, Turaki urged global support for the new leadership, declaring an end to impunity and questionable practices within the party. He assured members that they would be empowered to support their preferred candidates during elections.
“The truth is that the PDP is back and on the rise to take its rightful place in the democratic process of the country,” Turaki proclaimed. “Nigerians can see that since our convention in Ibadan, the APC is now more worried than ever. They know the equation has changed and that the PDP is ready to send them packing in 2027.”
Echoing these sentiments, the National Secretary, Arapaja, and the BoT Chairman, Wabara, separately called for unity and intensified mobilization efforts among party members.
Local Perspectives: Ogun State’s Readiness for 2027
The Ogun State Chairman of the PDP, Abayomi Tella, expressed the local chapter’s enthusiasm at being the first state to host the new leadership after their recent election. Tella reiterated the party’s preparedness for the 2027 elections and issued a stern warning against any attempts at harassment or intimidation of voters, citing experiences from recent elections in the state.
“For 2027, the election will be about the people versus political parties. It doesn’t matter whether it is APC or PDP,” Tella stated. “The people of Ogun State have tasted water and palm oil, and they know the difference. It is the people of the state, with the support of the PDP, who will take the mantle of leadership in 2027.”
Tella emphasized that the collective will of the people, coupled with the PDP’s support, would determine the outcome. He highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the current government, citing “maladministration and bad governance under the APC.”
“So, together with the people, we are battle-ready for 2027. What happened in 2023 will not repeat itself. What happened during the Remo Federal Constituency by-election in August will not repeat itself,” he vowed. “We are all indigenes and residents of this state, and we have the right to vote and be voted for. You cannot chase people away from voting for a party. We won’t allow that to happen in 2027.”
