“PDP is back and strong” — Pearse boasts after successful NEC meeting
Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has said the outcome of the party’s just-concluded National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja proves that the PDP remains a strong and united political force.
Pearse, a former member of Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee and convener of the Reset Lagos PDP group, made the remarks during an interview with the press on Friday.
The PDP’s 101st NEC meeting, which concluded on Thursday, saw major party stakeholders convene to set a clear roadmap ahead of the 2027 general elections. Notably, the party fixed its national elective convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Reacting to the outcome, Pearse stated:
“Nothing is wrong with PDP. PDP does not have the problems many other political parties have. PDP is founded on a very strong foundation.”
He compared internal party disagreements to challenges in a marriage, noting that resolving differences is far more strategic than jumping ship.
“If you jump out of this marriage, do you know what you will encounter in the other one you want to get into? Things may go far worse and even be catastrophic,” Pearse added.
He praised the PDP for maintaining its democratic structure, unlike rival parties that he said rely on appointments instead of elections to choose their leaders.
Pearse was optimistic that the NEC meeting had cleared the way for the PDP’s resurgence:
“We are looking good. PDP is back already. Those leaving PDP are confused and have taken the wrong step.”
A major highlight of the NEC meeting, according to Pearse, was the decision to zone the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a move he described as a “game changer” in positioning the PDP to defeat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On the recent defection of Atiku Abubakar and others to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Pearse was dismissive, predicting that many would eventually return to the PDP.
“Atiku will certainly win the ADC primary, but he cannot win the presidential election on that platform. His sense of judgment is always wrong. What he is doing now is messing up his political credentials,” he said.
Pearse also downplayed the relevance of ADC as a viable alternative, expressing doubt about its ability to mount a serious challenge in 2027.
With internal restructuring ongoing and clear plans emerging from the NEC meeting, Pearse reiterated that the PDP is now well-positioned to reclaim its place in Nigeria’s political leadership.
