Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has affirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains alive and formidable despite ongoing internal challenges.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday after the PDP Southwest Zoning Consultative Summit in Lagos, Makinde stressed that the party is far from being a spent force and still commands significant support across the country.
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second,” he said, referring to recent electoral performances.
Makinde added that the results are a strong indication that, with sustained effort and unity, the PDP can regain the confidence of Nigerians and possibly return to power.
READ ALSO: Makinde urges PDP members to stay united: “Don’t abandon the house over a leaking roof”
Focus on unity, not division
The governor also addressed internal rifts within the party, making it clear he would not engage in personal attacks or petty disputes.
“Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them,” he said.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. That is democracy.”
Makinde stressed the importance of rebuilding the party’s structure before discussing future leadership or presidential candidates.
“We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates,” he noted. “Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again.”
