A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Lagos State, Adelaja Adeoye, has described the party’s zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections as a game-changer.

Mr Adeoye, a former House of Representatives aspirant in Oshodi-Isolo federal constituency, said this in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.

PDP on Monday zoned its 2027 ticket to the South at its National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja. The PDP’s 102nd NEC meeting also retained the existing National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention.

Mr Adeoye said zoning the party’s presidential ticket to the South remained “the only sure path for the PDP’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election in 2027”.

According to him, the arrangement will promote unity and progress in the party.

“PDP is beginning to find its way back to stability owing to some of its recent  decisions, especially during the 102nd NEC meeting in Abuja. The party will right a lot of wrongs at the Ibadan National Convention slated for November 15 and November 16, where a brand new National Working Committee will emerge to manage the affairs of the party leading to 2027 and ahead,” said Mr Adeoye. “The party is taking bold steps and looking at various options that will give it  an edge in the 2027 elections.”

The chieftain urged the PDP’s national leadership to redouble its efforts to bring back those who had left the party. He said that PDP still remained the strongest opposition party in Nigeria, adding that with harmony, unity, and inclusion, the party would certainly return to its” rightful place”in the country.

“PDP leaders have also been mobilising heavily with the poaching of former Governor of Kano, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, calling on them to return to their former party.

“The coming together and mobilisation of these gladiators will surely be a game changer for the PDP in 2027, not only at the presidential level ,but for other elective positions nationwide,” Mr Adeoye stated.

He stated that the PDP’s error of leaving its presidential ticket open in the build-up to 2023 and the eventual emergence of a Northern candidate after eight years of northern presidency were responsible for its defeat in the election.

(NAN)