Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has issued a warning to politicians defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the outcome of the 2027 general elections will be determined by the plight of hungry Nigerians, rather than the recent defections of politicians to the APC.
Makinde made this statement during the official inauguration of the newly elected Southwest Zonal executive members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the Soji Adagunodo House in Ibadan on Wednesday.
He emphasised that the 2027 elections would be influenced by the struggles of hungry Nigerians, not by politicians’ movements.
Makinde further noted that the party would not be overly concerned about members defecting to other parties, but is instead focused on the day when hunger will drive people to support the ruling party.
According to him, “People have been asking us as leaders of this party that a lot of people are decamping, even governors, and some others are threatening to decamp and all of that. And they asked, Where is this party going?
“I said to those people that we will not be bothered until hunger has decamped to the ruling party, APC.
“The day hunger decamps, they should come and tell us and, then, we will know what to do. Because there is hunger in the land and majority of the people that are hungry would determine what 2027 would look like.
Don’t be bothered. If any governors like, let them decamp. We will stay with the people of Nigeria.”
Makinde faulted the claims that PDP has been building strong men but not strong institutions, as he argued that PDP lost power at the federal level in 2015 but PDP did not die.
“I read an article sometime around 2017 which was about PDP and its many crises in Oyo State. Despite the crisis, we won the election in Oyo State under PDP.
“We are here today to inaugurate the South West Executive for the PDP. How much of an institution do you still want? They may sponsor so many people against the party but don’t be discouraged, PDP is the only party in Nigeria with very strong institutions.
He submitted that as strong as APC is claiming to be, it has not held its Congress in the Southwest.
He, however, stated that he would be surprised if by tomorrow it decided to hold its Congress in the region.
“This is a party that only held NEC meeting once since the advent of this current administration. PDP’s NEC meeting, I believe the next one we are having is the 300th NEC meeting. So, PDP is the only party in Nigeria with very strong institutions.
“As leaders, we are committed to even further strengthening the institutions within the PDP. So, hold on to your party and I will repeat again that 2027 would not be APC versus PDP but APC versus the people that are hungry in Nigeria.”
He appreciated the members of the party for their steadfastness, adding, “This is a demonstration of your commitment to this party, it is not about positions.
“I can give you the assurance that there are still some positions coming. We are going to have the National Convention and would be asked to do one or two things. Rest assured that we will not forget you, and God will not also forget you.
Speaking in the same vein, his Osun state counterpart, Senator Ademola Adeleke, charged the members to embark on aggressive peace building across the South West states and bring aggrieved members of the party together in unity.
In his inaugural speech, the PDP National Vice Chairman, (South West), Engr. Kamorudeen Ajisafe assured PDP members of his determination to work with the states’ party chairmen to reconcile and harmonise the party with a view to winning more governorship seats and more legislative seats for the party in the next general elections.
He urged all the party members to be united with a clear purpose and determination to build and strengthen the party, assuring that the struggle to win the presidency in 2027 would be championed from the South West.
In his goodwill message, the Ogun State PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, Chief Ladi Adebutu, commended Governor Makinde and his counterpart from Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for their quality leadership, which produced a rancour-free election of the South West zonal executive.
He implored all the party members to come together, assuring that the party would provide leadership for the South West to get its due.
The event had in attendance PDP leaders from all the South West states.
