Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a notable chieftain of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called for the party to prioritise the selection of a southern presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Pearse emphasised that fielding another northern candidate could jeopardise the PDP’s chances in the next presidential election.
“The national sentiment and general feeling now is that the PDP should field a southern candidate for president in 2027,” Pearse stated.
“We need someone from the South to complete these eight years of southern presidency and rescue Nigeria. Supporting a northern candidate would not be strategic or in our best interest.”
Pearse, who played a key role in Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign in Lagos State, dismissed the idea of a merger between the PDP and other opposition parties like the Labour Party (LP) or New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Citing a lack of historical success with political alliances in Nigeria, he explained that such mergers are often unrealistic due to the competing interests of leaders within the parties.
“Political alliances are challenging, both in Nigeria and globally. Competing groups rarely yield ground to each other. We’ve tried this before, and it didn’t work. I think it’s very unlikely for the PDP to pursue any alliance for 2027,” Pearse said.
He also downplayed the potential impact of the LP and NNPP, pointing out that each party only managed to secure one governorship seat in the last elections. According to him, the PDP is well-positioned to win the 2027 presidential election on its own, especially with a southern candidate and a united front.
Highlighting the party’s strengths, Pearse noted, “We have 12 governors and about 40% of the National Assembly. If we focus on strengthening the party and bringing back members who have left, even if 60% return, we will win the next election.”
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Pearse attributed the PDP’s loss to internal divisions caused by the lack of clarity on zoning.
He criticised the party’s leadership for not upholding its constitutional guidelines, which stipulate that the national chairman and presidential candidate cannot both be from the same region.
“The PDP lost because of a divided house,” he remarked. “Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman at the time, should have stepped down when a northern presidential candidate emerged. That failure to address zoning was the beginning of our problems.”
Looking forward, Pearse stressed that the party must learn from its past mistakes and ensure unity. “We will not allow the zoning issue to derail us again. With the right strategy and a southern candidate, the PDP can reclaim its place and win in 2027,” he concluded.