A senior member of Nigeria’s main opposition party said Friday that the Peoples Democratic Party has undergone a “rebirth” and is poised to reclaim power in the 2027 general elections.
Olabode George made the remarks in a speech delivered at the inauguration of new party officials in Lagos, saying the party’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan marked a turning point.
“What we have in our party today … is a rebirth, a new hope, a new beginning,” he said, adding that the convention restored public confidence in the party founded in 1998.
George described the PDP as a strong national platform and dismissed the possibility of any coalition surpassing its reach.
“From the North to South, East to West, PDP remains a strong political platform,” he said. “There is no coalition in today’s Nigeria that can be stronger than PDP.”
He also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing it of undermining democracy and pressuring opposition members to defect.
“Our governors and lawmakers are being forced to defect, but we are not bothered,” he said, describing the APC as “a coalition of strange bedfellows.”
George cited the conduct of PDP congresses and its national convention as evidence of internal democracy, contrasting it with what he described as imposition of leadership within the APC.
He further accused the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission, of being used to frustrate the opposition, though he did not provide evidence.
George said Nigerians dissatisfied with APC governance since 2015 would use the 2027 elections to return the PDP to power.
He also criticized recent local elections in the Federal Capital Territory, describing them as poorly managed and warning against a repeat in 2027.
At the event, George inaugurated the Lagos State Executive Committee of the party and urged members to remain committed despite current challenges, which he described as temporary.
He referenced remarks by former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, saying past internal tensions in the PDP were less severe than issues facing the ruling party.
George concluded by saying the PDP would restore Nigeria’s global standing if elected.
Separately, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru dismissed criticism from opposition leaders, saying they were reacting to a loss of access to resources rather than genuine concern for citizens.
Basiru spoke after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja and amid recent defections from opposition parties.
Opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party leader Peter Obi, have warned that Nigeria risks becoming a one-party state under the current administration.
In December 2025, APC spokesman Felix Morka said challenges facing opposition parties were due to internal issues rather than actions by the ruling party.
