2027: PDP will bounce back, challenge Tinubu, APC — Olabode George

… as party inaugurates screening committee

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has assured Nigerians that the main opposition party will bounce back, saying those who thought it would go under would be disappointed.

George gave this assurance on Tuesday at the inauguration of the PDP Lagos State Elders and Leaders Screening Committee, for the upcoming Lagos State party executive positions, held at the party secretariat in Ikeja, assuring that PDP would be reorganised to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a good fight in the coming general elections.

Speaking on the committee headed by Dr. Remi Akitoye, while its secretary is Reverend John Danzu, with members, including Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chief(Mrs) Onikepo Oshodi, Chief (Mrs) Aduke Maina, Elder John Agbaje, Dr. Niran Adeniji, among others, George said the essence of setting it up was in line with the directive of the national body of the party.

According to him, the committee has as its duty to screen all those aspiring for executive positions in the party and ensure a credible candidate emerges as the party’s candidate.

“It is the most critical job that the party requires, mandated by the national body to screen candidates from the ward to the state level. This is unusual, it is a Lagos State internal job, to ensure our party at the state is stable before the national does its job.

“We are bringing civility, commitment, and loyalty back to the party. The candidates for party executive positions must be solid and grounded in the party affairs before recommending the person to carry the load of the party,” the PDP chieftain said.

George said that with the step taken, the political gerrymandering of the PDP had come to an end, adding that it was a move by the party leadership to “make the PDP a people-oriented party and focus more on alleviating the suffering of the masses.

“There is hunger and anger in the country; we need to alert Mr. President that all is not well. We will reorganise our party to give President Tinubu a good fight in 2027.”

Speaking further, George said PDP had decided to do away with greedy, avarice and self-centred people, noting that the lack of commitment, loyalty by some members made the party look like it had collapsed.

This was just as he quickly recalled that the leadership at the party’s last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, resolved that exco members would be committed to the plight of Nigerians.

“It is greed that makes some people leave the party. Let us sell all these messages to the people of Nigeria. Let us tell them we have the capacity, the knowledge, we have learnt the lesson to strengthen the party, to move the country forward.

“We can rejuvenate the country, that is the essence of setting up this screening committee, not everybody can come on board,” he said

Responding after the swearing in, the screening committee chairman, Dr. Akitoye, said his committee would do its best in the assignment given to it, pointing out that the assignment was the foundation for the party’s rebirth and would ensure the PDP would bounce back.

Akitoye, while expressing his committee’s commitment, noted that if the assignment was pursued accordingly and rightly delivered in Lagos State, other states would follow suit.

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