Why APC might win 2027 election — PDP chieftain

A Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship aspirant, Conrad Utaan, has warned that the All Progressives Congress may safe victory within the 2027 election if the continuing points throughout the PDP proceed.

Utaan acknowledged this throughout an interplay with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, highlighting that the inner disaster has rendered all key figures within the PDP ineffective.

The PDP has been grappling with inside disputes for the reason that buildup to the 2023 presidential election, which contributed to the get together’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, shedding to the incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the APC.

Some members attribute the deepening disaster to performing Nationwide Chairman Umar Damagum’s failure to revitalise the get together after he took over following the court docket’s elimination of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

This ongoing strife has broken the get together’s status and enchantment amongst many Nigerians, who beforehand regarded it as a viable various to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He acknowledged, “Look, there’s a lot confusion in our get together, the PDP. The APC, as a lot as we hate to confess it, may stroll into one other time period by 2027 if the PDP continues this fashion with this disaster.

“The large names within the PDP have change into dormant due to the problems we have now discovered ourselves in throughout the get together. That’s the reason why we’re advocating for North Central to finish its time period as PDP Nationwide Chairman to resolve all points.

“By the best way, this time period ends in November 2025. I’m not working to be chairman for 4 years. I’m working to finish the time period of the North Central, the time period of Benue, the time period of Benue North West Central District, even when it’s for 2 days. It belongs to the North Central. It belongs to Benue. It belongs to Zone B of Benue. It’s ours, even when it’s for 2 days.”

Utaan, who described it as a disgrace that the PDP has been mired in an inside disaster for thus lengthy, emphasised the pressing want for the North Central to suggest a alternative for Damagum to be accepted on the Nationwide Government Committee assembly on October 24.

“What got here to us within the North Central was the nationwide chairman of the PDP, after which hastily, we found that Damagum was changing into kind of a substantive chairman. After which no one was saying something, you understand, so once more, I took it upon myself to offer it a problem.

“And our case shouldn’t be an exception. The Chairman of the PDP is for the North Central Zone. If the get together, or the Nationwide Government Committee of the get together, decides that Damagum ought to be a substantive chairman, they need to come out and inform the North Central. If not, the North Central should convey a alternative; the North East can’t have each the Deputy Nationwide Chairman and the Nationwide Chairman on the identical time once we in North Central are left with nothing,” he stated.

The PDP nationwide chairman aspirant acknowledged that, not like different candidates, he doesn’t bear the burdens related to former public officeholders.

He confused that the PDP urgently wants peace and real reconciliation, stating that he’s not too proud to ask all stakeholders for assist in attaining this.

Utaan added, “I’m not encumbered by ego to say I’m too huge to beg. Our get together proper now requires peace and reconciliation, and somebody who can construct unity robust sufficient for us to win again energy in Nigeria, and the one who could also be greatest suited is a person whom everyone considers his boss.

“I’m not too huge to kneel in entrance of Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara, or kneel in entrance of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, or kneel in entrance of former President Goodluck Jonathan, or kneel in entrance of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, or anybody else to attain peace and transfer the PDP ahead.

“It’s not about being a former this or a former that; maybe that’s why we’re the place we’re as we speak. The PDP has lengthy been embroiled in a single management succession difficulty after one other. I believe it’s time for a contemporary begin.”

He revealed that he possesses all the pieces essential to tackle the management of the PDP and sort out all of the challenges dealing with the get together.

Utaan continued, “I’ve what it takes, not solely academically or intellectually, however I even have an actual really feel for the heartbeat of the folks on the road. Abnormal members of the PDP can join with me higher than any former nationwide secretary, governor, senator, minister, or anybody else.

“I’ve met with the leaders of this get together in any respect ranges. I’ve met with my get together on the native stage, on the state stage, and final week, I addressed the North Central Government Committee of the get together. My message resonated with them. Maybe I’ve introduced a brand new hearth that may awaken the North Central and, by extension, revive the PDP. I need to steer this get together with humility and sacrifice.”