Makinde: Strengthening PDP vital than choice of 2027 presidential candidate

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has reiterated the need for a united Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before talks on the choice of presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.

Makinde spoke to newsmen after a closed-door PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit held n Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

The meeting was convened to deliberate on zoning arrangements ahead of the party’s forthcoming national convention.

Answering questions on whether the  meeting deliberated on the choice of the PDP presidential candidate for 2027,  Makinde said: “We haven’t even gotten there.

“We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything that you are trying to do will fall flat.

“So, our efforts right now is directed towards having a virile and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of, and again will believe in.”

Justifying the need for adequate  consultations with all PDP stakeholders, Makinde stated that the party must close ranks and present itself as a credible alternative.

‘It’s illegal’: PDP chairmen, ex-govs, others disown southern zoning meeting

He said the PDP stakeholders at the meeting took far-reaching decisions ahead of the national convention of the party slated for November.

“Our next wider consultations will also take place, and we are sure that those that have been saying that ‘PDP is dead” ‘PDP is now’ a carcass will now the party is much alive,” the governor added.

The meeting had in attendance Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri; Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy; Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who earlier left to address an issue in the state.

Others included former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Bode George; and BOT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara.

Also in attendance were former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa-Ibom), among others.

Loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, were conspicuously absent at the meeting.

The party leaders in the camp of Wike had earlier on Thursday dismissed the Lagos meeting as “illegal” and “exclusionary.”

The Star