Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party is alive and ready for the 2027 general elections.
The governor, who insisted that the party is not dead, said PDP remained strong and prepared to surprise its critics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He spoke at the South-West PDP Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Friday .
Makinde assured the party members that the PDP is “well and alive.”
The meeting attracted PDP leaders and political office holders across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti states.
National Secretary of the PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Chairman of the in the South-West, Kamorudeen Ajisafe; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, among others, attended the meeting.
The party leaders also received two groups of defectors from the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party into the party.
Addressing the gathering, Makinde said the turnout of party members as well as the defectors had proved those who declared the PDP a dead political party wrong.
“I can assure you that the PDP is well and alive. Whoever thinks otherwise will be surprised beyond their imagination,” the governor said.
He urged party leaders and members across the region to remain united and committed at the grassroots level, emphasising the importance of strengthening the party’s structures within communities, wards, and local governments.
“So, my charge to you is, please hold your communities, hold your wards, hold your local governments, and it will be well with us,” he added.
Makinde also encouraged party members to be faithful and loyal, expressing optimism about the PDP’s future.
While welcoming Makinde and other party leaders, Adebutu said the PDP has proven its detractors wrong, insisting that the PDP remains united.
“Let’s remain firm in the PDP. We now have structures from ward to the national levels.
“So, we have nothing to fear,” Adebutu said.
Makinde had recently reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP, declaring his comfort in the opposition party despite a growing wave of high-profile defections to the ruling APC
“No, I’m comfortable in the PDP,” Makinde told journalists after closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
He emphasised that his visit to the President was focused on governance matters affecting the nation rather than party political considerations.
