BAYO AGBOOLA recalls the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum meeting which held in Ibadan last week was to activate party organs in readiness for the 2027 general polls
Governors’ Forum parley agenda
Last week, on Sunday and Monday (April 13 and 14), to be specific, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) converged at Ibadan for a meeting during which they left no one in doubt of their determination to, among others things, reshape the party and put it in a more formidable form to cope with the political changes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Specifically, the Chairman of the PDP Governor Forum, Bala Mohammed and the host, Governor Seyi Makinde, were optimistic of the party displacing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level come 2027 general election.
Roll call
It started on Sunday, April 13, with a colourful dinner for the members of the forum comprising the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi state, Senator Bala Mohammed; Ahmad Fintiri of Adamawa state, Dr Peter Mbah of Enugu state and Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun state.
Others were Barrister Caleb Mutgwang of Plateau state, Dr Agbu Kefas of Taraba state, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom state Senator Akon Eyakenyi representing his boss Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state as well as the Deputy Governor of Delta state standing in for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
In attendance also was the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun.
Readiness to form next government
For whoever cares to listen, the PDP governors never hid their determination to pursue the 2027 general election to a logical conclusion by ensuring victory for their party at the polls, especially at the federal level come 2027.
The host Makinde and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, (PDPGF), Bala while speaking on Sunday at a reception organised by the Oyo government at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, emphasised that PDP was set to form the next government at the federal level.
Welcoming the governors and other PDP leaders to the reception, Makinde categorically declared that PDP would unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government at the federal level in the 2027 general election, adding that Nigerians had seen the capacity of the party to deliver good governance.
While stressing that the 2027 contest would be between the APC and the people of Nigeria, he noted that PDP would form the next government at the federal level in 2027, expressing the optimism that PDP had the ability to resolve its internal issues.
“The PDP is going to be where we want it to be. This is the party that will form the next government in the country. I have said it before. 2027 is between the APC and the people of Nigerian.
“Those people that have been carrying rumours all over the place that this is a meeting that will define the direction that PDP will go, let me tell you that PDP is going to where we want it to go, and by God’s grace, this is the party that will form the next government at the federal level.
“We have the capacity within the PDP, we have the people, we have the maturity to solve our internal issues. They should face their own internal issue, and I will repeat, just like I said before, the 2027 election is going to be between APC and the people of Nigeria.
“I want to thank you all for your commitment to the party and for coming to Oyo state despite all of the challenges. If people are saying that our party has this or that issue; all organs of the party that are here tonight have demonstrated total commitment to this party.
“For those who have been speculating that this is a meeting that would define the direction the PDP would go, let me tell you that PDP will go in the right direction. And, by the grace of God, this is the party that will form the next government at the federal level in Nigeria in 2027.
Bala debunks rumours of division
On his part, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed at the reception, said despite the challenges, the leading opposition party was standing tall on its feet and that the meeting provided an opportunity for the governors to reflect, reconnect and reassess governance.
He pointed out that it laid to rest speculations of disunity and disagreement within the party and that the governors and the NWC were united in their efforts to resolve party crisis and move the platform forward.
“We are here on a routine meeting of the PDP Governors Forum and of course, it has become a tradition of reconnection, of reassessment and of course, self-assessment of the governors in terms of sitting down and discussing governance.
“We are here on a routine practice that we have established. PDP has come a long way as a party. Some of those speculations are mere lies. You can see we are together. We are united as a party.
“We are united with our National Working Committee, working to ensure that all those disparaging issues are set aside and we will work as per the mandate given to us because coming from the opposition, we are swallowing a lot of melancholy, a lot of persecution these days but certainly we are standing tall.”
Governor Mohammed stressed, “All our governors are working very hard to ensure that at least, we leave the society better than where we have found it and that is why we make the difference.In 2027, by the grace of God, we shall be taking over the rein of leadership in this country because Nigerians have learned and they know what it is all about.
“The governor of Oyo has said it. You can see what the young man is doing in this part of Nigeria. The infrastructural delivery, the human capital development and so on and so forth”.
“If you go to Adamawa and see the kind of infrastructure that is being provided you will be amazed that from where is he getting the money.Taraba has already changed the landscape. Of course, Zamfara used to be a no-go area but today you have seen the security.
“People are happy because the governor is working.The same thing with Osun. My brother is not only dancing, he is dancing with wisdom, knowledge and righteousness. If you go to Bauchi you will see the trajectory has changed.It has changed for the best because we are all working. Our peer review mechanism is working.
“We are not just competing for positions, we are competing to excel. All our governors are working very very hard. In Bauchi, we are modestly trying to conquer, to catch up with other states that have left us behind in terms of looking at the expectations of the people and meeting them in infrastructure and services, education and so on and so forth.If you go to Enugu, definitely it’s a different story.
“That is an island of work, of services, of ingenuity and so on and so forth. The same thing with Akwa Ibom. The man of God is really a man of God. With fear of God, he is working very hard.
“The Sheriff by the sea is doing so well and of course, we have seen the provision of bridges, of roads and so on and so forth. These are the manifestations that determine good governors and we are not doing it to be praised. We are doing it because we want to set the tone for governance.”
Outcome of meeting
On Monday, April 14, after an extensive meeting, the 12 governors elected on the platform of PDP, came up with the stand that PDP as a political party in Nigeria will not join any coalition or merger but would welcome any party or persons willing to join it or work with it to wrest power and enthrone good leadership in the country.
The governors, in a communiqué read by their Chairman Mohammed stated that the party would resolve all its issues before 2027 and that, in conjunction with the National Working Committee (NWC) and other relevant organs of the party.
The communiqué :
“Noting the nationwide speculations about possible merger of parties, groups and/or associations, the forum resolved that the PDP will not join any coalition or merger. However, the PDP as a major opposition party welcomes any party, persons or groups that are willing to join it with a view to wresting power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.
“The forum reiterates its position taken in Asaba on the issue of National Secretary of the party, but in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment, the forum resolved to recommend that the Deputy Secretary acts as National Secretary, pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive secretary from the South-East zone at its next meeting.
“The forum reasserts our collective determination to avert a rape of our constitutional democracy, hence the decision of approach Supreme Court to give a clear-cut verdict on the interpretation of the law on the declaration of State of Emergency in any state.
“The forum restates its solidarity with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on the ordeal into which his state and people are being plunged by the declaration of a state of emergency. And, we reiterate our commitment to stand with him till the end.
“The forum, working in conjunction with the National Working Committee (NWC) and other relevant organs of the party, resolves to hold a NEC Meeting on the 27th of May, 2025; constitute a Zoning Committee that will address all issues relating to zoning of party offices and hold an early convention in August 2025, precisely on the 28th, 29th and 30th in the city of Kano.
“The forum equally recommends the constitution of the Zoning and National Convention Committees for ratification by the NWC and NEC as follows; Zoning Committee: Governor Douye Diri, Chairman; Governor Dauda Lawal – Vice Chairman and Governor Caleb Mutfwang-Secretary, while the National Convention Committee has Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as Chairman, Governor Ademola Adeleke as Vice Chairman and Governor Peter Mbah as Secretary.
“The forum finds alarming the worsening security situation in the country, as evidenced in parts of the country especially Borno, Katsina and Edo states. While raising the concerns above, we condemn the recent attacks in Plateau state, and commiserate with government and people of the state, especially those who lost their lives and properties during this unfortunate mishap.
“The forum calls for review and reordering of priorities and strategies including adopting a bottom-up template that guarantees the sub-nationals to constitute an effective line of defence against security breaches.
Though, the PDP Governors Forum meeting in Ibadan had come and gone, but it has no doubt left behind issues in the nation’s political arena considering ongoing political moves around the country on the possibility of the country witnessing major coalition of political parties and political bigwigs in the country ahead the 2027 political race.
To some, the outcome of the meeting could best be described as another purported subtle move at replicating the pre 2015 general election episode which left prominent leaders of the party including five serving governors (as at that time) decamping to the major opposition party thus helping it to win the presidential polls then.
The scenario according to political observers is just unfolding itself and all eyes are on the PDPGF as to whether history would still repeat itself or the party will get its bearing right this time around come 2027.