Leadnaija
According to Vanguard News, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a Lagos State PDP chieftain and former member of Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC), has urged the party to ensure a southerner is chosen as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Pearse, who served as the Head of the Directorate of Documentation/Reporting for Atiku Abubakar’s PCC in Lagos, shared his views during an interview in Lagos on Sunday.
He emphasized that fielding a northern candidate in the next election might harm the party’s chances. According to him, the prevailing sentiment across the country favors a southern candidate.
“The general opinion now is that the PDP should present a southern candidate for president in 2027,” Pearse stated. “Nigerians feel strongly that someone from the South should complete these eight years of southern leadership to rescue Nigeria. Supporting a northern candidate would not be strategic or in our best interest.”Tap Here for the Full Story
He also dismissed the idea of a merger with other opposition parties, such as the Labour Party (LP) or New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), stating that political alliances in Nigeria have historically been unsuccessful.
“Political alliances are challenging because competing groups and leaders find it hard to compromise,” Pearse explained. “We have tried this before, and it is not realistic. PDP does not need an alliance to win in 2027.”
He further argued that parties like LP and NNPP lack significant influence, as both produced only one governor each in the last elections. Pearse expressed confidence that PDP could secure victory in 2027 with a southern candidate, leveraging its existing strength in state governors and National Assembly members.
“The 2023 election was very close. PDP has 12 governors and about 40 percent of the National Assembly. If we strengthen the party and bring back at least 60 percent of our members who left, we will win the next election,” Pearse said.
He noted that PDP’s loss in 2023 was due to internal divisions, particularly disagreements over zoning. Pearse criticized the party’s failure to enforce its zoning principles, which dictate that if the national chairman is from the North, the presidential candidate must come from the South.
“The party’s problems began when the national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, did not step down after a northerner emerged as the presidential candidate. This created a divided house, which cost us the election,” he said.
Pearse concluded by emphasizing the need for reconciliation within the PDP, especially with members who defected to the Labour Party. He believes that reuniting and strengthening the party’s structures will ensure victory in 2027.
