By Ibrahim Salaudeen, Lagos
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Thursday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would reclaim the confidence of Nigerians if the party worked hard enough ahead of 2027.
Makinde said that despite challenges, recent bye – elections in his state and some other states had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.
He made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the PDP in Lagos.
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.
Asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.
“We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.
“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.
The governor, however, said he was not going to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”
He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”
In attendance at the meeting were the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bode George; and Monsurat Sunmonu.
Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.
