A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has projected that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will emerge as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general elections.
Pearse made the assertion while addressing journalists in Lagos on the recent wave of defections from the PDP, including Atiku’s exit.
Despite the development, Pearse insisted that the PDP remains unaffected.
He criticized Atiku’s political decisions, describing them as self-sabotaging moves that continue to weaken his public image.
“Atiku will certainly win the ADC primary and clinch the presidential ticket, but he cannot win the presidential election on that platform,” Pearse said.
“The former vice president’s sense of judgment is always wrong. What he is doing now is messing up his political credentials,” he added.
Pearse, who is a former member of the Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee and the convener of the Reset Lagos PDP group, maintained that many of those leaving the PDP for the ADC would soon realise their error and return.
Speaking on the state of the PDP, Pearse emphasized the significance of the recently concluded National Executive Committee meeting held in Abuja.
According to him, the outcome of the meeting reaffirms the unity and stability of the party.
“Nothing is wrong with PDP. PDP does not have the problems many other political parties have. PDP is founded on a very strong foundation,” he said.
He likened the party’s internal challenges to issues that arise in a marriage, emphasizing that leaving the party in search of alternatives could lead to greater disappointment.
“Just like in a marriage, there can be some issues that must be resolved. If you jump out of this marriage, do you know what you will encounter in the other one you want to get into? Things may go far worse and even be catastrophic.
“We have held our NEC meeting, and everything points to the fact that PDP is well. We are Democrats; we do not appoint leaders like the other political party, we elect them. PDP is moving on, and everything is in order. We are looking good. PDP is back already. Those leaving PDP are confused, as they just took the wrong step.”
On the party’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, Pearse described it as a strategic move that could shift the political landscape.
“This is the only way to defeat incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he stated.
The PDP, during its 101st NEC meeting in Abuja, scheduled its national elective convention for November 15 and 16, to be held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders, focused on internal reforms and strategies for the 2027 general elections.
Pearse’s remarks come as the PDP works to reposition itself as a viable alternative to the ruling APC, navigating defections, internal tensions, and the challenge of building a competitive coalition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
