A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Adetokunbo Pearse, says the most important task at Thursday’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party should be how to save Nigeria in 2027.

Mr Pearse, former member of Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

The chieftain said that members and stakeholders expected the PDP NEC to use the much-awaited meeting to prepare the party and position it to win the 2027 presidential election.

“The most important thing now is that we, as PDP, have to prepare to save Nigeria come 2027. That should be the main focus of the NEC meeting. The party must come together in unity and strength and inform Nigerians what it would do differently and how it would do it.

“This is important for Nigerians to have hope that 2027 will usher in something better than what we have now,” Mr Pearse said.

He urged all PDP stakeholders to put their differences aside and work together for the progress of the party.

Mr Pearse added, “We must build the party, reach out to people because virtually about 50 per cent of our party members went into Labour Party in the build up to 2023 general elections. If we have that number, the PDP would have won the last presidential election.

“We must reach out to those aggrieved members. We must engage in the process of reconciliation, renegotiation and discussions, so that we can rebuild the party and come back in unity.

“PDP must present a tangible, legitimate alternative to Nigerians for their consideration in the 2027 presidential elections.”

Mr Pearse said PDP leaders had other important issues to resolve at the meeting.

“One of the other important issues is the way forward in terms of the national convention so that we can elect a substantive national chairman. From there, we have an idea of whether the party would be zoning for 2027 or not.

“The issue of those accused of anti-party activities before, during and after the last general elections must also be addressed,” he said.

He said the NEC meeting must also discuss some positions vacant in 2025 and how to fill them.

The PDP NEC is the party’s highest decision-making organ, comprising state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice presidents, chairman and secretary of the BoT, principal officers of the national assembly, all state chairpersons, members of the national working committee (NWC), former governors, and founding members, among others.

The NEC meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will be preceded by other strategic meetings starting on Tuesday.

One of such strategic meetings is the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting.

(NAN)