Former Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Otunba Segun Adewale, has dismissed concerns that the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could harm the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.Adewale, popularly known as Aeroland, made this assertion during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.He was reacting to a recent statement by Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, who claimed that Atiku’s ambition would be detrimental to the party’s future.
Atiku was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, where he emerged second behind President Bola Tinubu.Adewale countered George’s remarks, saying, “No one should claim that Atiku’s 2027 candidacy will destroy the PDP. What truly threatens the party are the anti-party activities of some of its leaders during elections.”
He said: “Atiku has been contributing to the party for years.
“Atiku would have won in the 2023 presidential election if not because of the anti party activities of some people.“Anti-party activities are what led the PDP to where it is today, where people are suffering. PDP would have been in power after 2023 election.“They (some party leaders) made sure that the PDP votes were divided in Lagos and other states. That’s why PDP lost that election.”
He said that the party leadership should rather focus on curbing anti-party activities among leaders instead of attacking Abubakar’s candidacy.The chieftain said that the party should take a firm stand against those destroying the party through their actions and inactions.“Some PDP leaders should be ashamed of themselves, especially those working for the opposition openly and without looking backward in every election.
“These are activities that slim down our chances and destroyed the party in Lagos State and at the national level in all electoral cycles since 2015.“If Atiku’s candidacy will destroy the PDP, what do we say of party leaders who openly tell PDP members to vote opposition? Will that build or brighten the our chances?“We must address the substance and stop chasing shadow, ” the chieftain said.
According to him, some leaders are always fighting PDP candidates, coming out forcibly against them in every election.“We should rather concentrate on those in the party but working for the opposition. This anti-party is our problem not Atiku’s candidacy,” he said.Adewale said that George should stop speaking as if he was the voice of Lagos PDP.
“Bode George’s comment that Atiku, a PDP chieftain getting the party’s ticket in 2027 will be a downfall of the party, is not true,” Adewale said.NAN recalls that George has on Monday, on Channels Television’s Politics Today said that PDP would meet its end if Abubakar secured the party’s 2027 presidential ticket. (NAN)
