Despite the ongoing leadership challenges, a Lagos State chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adetokunbo Pearse, has assured that the party is not dysfunctional. He emphasized that the party’s organs remain intact and will overcome the current issues ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Pearse, who served as a member of the Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) and was the State Coordinator of Support Groups for the Atiku/Okowa campaign, made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
“There are challenges within the PDP political family, but every political party goes through such phases, not just in Nigeria but globally,” Pearse said. “I’ve just returned from a three-day visit to Abuja, and I can confirm that the National Headquarters and all party offices are functioning as usual.”
He pointed out that the efforts to paint the PDP as a dysfunctional organization were the work of critics, particularly those from the ruling APC, who he believes are worried that the current situation in the country could lead to Nigerians choosing a PDP government in the 2027 elections.
Pearse also dismissed rumors regarding attempts to remove Umar Damagun from his position as Acting National Chairman of the PDP. “There has never been any serious effort from the party’s structures to remove him. If the Board of Trustees, Governors’ Forum, and National Executive Committee decide that he should step down, he will, as long as the courts do not object,” he said.
On the dispute surrounding the PDP National Secretary position, Pearse confirmed that Samuel Anyanwu had legally lost his position, citing court rulings that have affirmed this outcome.
The PDP has been grappling with leadership issues since the lead-up to the 2015 general elections, but Pearse expressed confidence that the party would resolve these challenges and remain a strong contender in the upcoming political race.
