Adetokunbo Pearse, a Lagos State PDP chieftain, says the party has emerged from its national convention more united, focused, and determined to stop Nigeria from drifting into a one-party state.

Mr Pearse, the convener of Reset Lagos PDP and former governorship candidate, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Monday in Lagos.

He said the convention strengthened internal cohesion by removing elements that, according to him, had undermined the party’s operations.

Mr Pearse insisted that the convention was peaceful, valid, and widely representative, contrary to claims of poor attendance or boycotts by some blocs.

He said, “We have gotten rid of the double agents and saboteurs, the enemies within. We are a cleaner party.

“Now we are more united, more focused, and more determined than ever to save Nigeria from a one-party state.”

He said that those dismissing the convention as controversial are people who do not want the party to field candidates in 2027, adding, “In reality, it was a unifying convention.”

According to him, all states had legitimate delegates present, drawn from established party structures across LGAs, state executives, statutory members, and former office holders.

Mr Pearse said the National Working Committee (NWC) now had a clear mandate to steer the party’s affairs for the next four years and ensure the transparent conduct of congresses and primaries nationwide.

He dismissed suggestions that the absence of some governors signalled a crisis, stressing that governors  do not determine the composition of their state delegations.

Mr Pearse stated that the decision to expel some chieftains, taken at the convention, reflected the collective will of the party and not the preference of any individual or governor.

He accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of attempting to exert influence through what he called an alternative, self-controlled structure, including control of the PDP national secretariat, Wadata Plaza.

According to him, with the convention, the party now has clarity about its genuine members and is better positioned to rebuild ahead of the 2027 election.

Mr Pearse said the PDP would prioritise fairness, transparency, and internal democracy in all party processes under the new NWC.

He added that a united PDP remained essential to preventing the entrenchment of a one-party political environment in Nigeria.

On defections of some governors from PDP, Mr Pearse said the outcome of the 2023 general elections was proof that the number of governors does not determine the victory of political parties in elections. 

(NAN)