The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has framed the upcoming 2027 general elections as a battle between President Bola Tinubu and the everyday struggles of Nigerians, insisting the contest will not be about political leaders or party structures.
Speaking on Thursday at the PDP National Secretariat during the presentation of the Certificate of Return to Chief Ezenwafor Jude, the party’s candidate for the Anambra State governorship election, Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, rallied members to focus on the suffering of the people rather than political alignments.
“This election in 2027 is not about governors or leaders. It’s about Tinubu and Nigerians. The ordinary man is feeling the pain, and the decision is his. It’s APC versus Nigerians, not any governor or senator. I urge all of us to close ranks and rescue ourselves from this hardship inflicted on us by design,” Damagum declared.
He also responded to the recent defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor and 2023 PDP vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, along with the entire state political structure, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending PDP’s 26-year hold on Delta.
He expressed deep disappointment over the move, highlighting the PDP’s longstanding loyalty to Delta.
“It’s very sad and unfortunate. If there’s any state that shouldn’t act this way, it’s Delta. The party gave Delta all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who was also our vice-presidential candidate. We least expected this action from them,” he said.
Undeterred, Damagum pointed to the 2023 presidential election as evidence that political machinery isn’t everything. Referencing Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who ran without support from any sitting governor yet won millions of votes, Damagum underscored the power of the people.
“This is a party that has seen more than this and is still standing. Let me remind us all – Peter Obi had no governor behind him in 2023, but he still garnered millions of votes,” he noted.
Reaffirming PDP’s determination to weather the storm and refocus on the masses, he concluded with a message of unity, faith, and resilience.
“We will experience a lot of challenges but there is no challenge that is insurmountable. I thank God we are all people of faith.
“We know there is a limit to whatever one can do other than what God has designed. You may have your own tactics where you cannot outplay God. We leave our faith in the hands of God and we believe He will help us out of this great situation.”
