The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, has assured that the party will not repeat the mistakes that cost it the 2023 elections, stressing that reconciliation and discipline are already being enforced while defectors from rival parties will eventually return.
Speaking on ARISE News on Monday, Ajibade insisted that the PDP has learnt vital lessons from the last electoral cycle. “Whichever way and whatever happens going forward in this party today, I can assure you, the experience of 2023 is there to guide us. We will not make the same mistake. That is my assurance to you.”
On the issue of defections and the influence of former members who left the PDP, Ajibade dismissed claims that the party had been weakened, insisting that they would eventually return.
“Those that left, I can assure you, some of them have even returned back. And while we are going forward, I can tell you, even from APC, even from ADC, you are talking about, they will return back to this party, I can assure you that.”
Addressing concerns about the role of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and others who openly worked against the PDP during the elections, Ajibade stressed that discipline remains central but must be balanced with reconciliation.
“The most dangerous member of the political party is a member that will be PDP in the daytime and will be somewhere else in the night. So, for Wike, we’ve known the position of Wike and Wike has come out to state his position as clearly as possible. So, aspect of discipline, the party is taking a step and we’re working on that.”
Ajibade further highlighted that reconciliation has been a major focus in rebuilding the PDP since the last election. “There are grieved people, and when they are grieved, they state their grievances. And what we do on the ground to make sure that we’re able to reconcile the differences might not be known to you, but certainly give it to us.
You should know that by now, PDP has made a lot of effort, a lot of strides, a lot of steps have been taken. And many of you and the naysayers, I’m sure many of them are surprised where we have gotten the party to today.”
He insisted that the PDP is stronger now than in the immediate aftermath of the elections. “You can’t compare where we were four months ago with where we are today. At the end of the day, we resolved that issue and the party has moved forward.”
On zoning of the 2027 presidential ticket, Ajibade said the PDP would respect its internal constitution but stressed that this would not bar anyone from contesting.
“The zoning has to do with our own internal democracy, and that has to do with our constitution requiring us to do zoning, to do balancing. But that would not preclude any other person to run if they didn’t feel to come up to run. Because purely, we cannot do things that would run against the constitution of Nigeria itself, which is a grand norm.”
He warned that political ambition should never overshadow the survival of the party. “My call most of the time is that certainly a politician, once you are a politician you must have ambition. But don’t let that ambition be above the party itself. That is the future of the party.
That has always been what we have been preaching. Even the issue of G5, it was an issue of ambition. Certainly. But today I think we’ve taken a giant stride and everybody has been on deck and everybody is prepared today to move the party forward.”
Reacting to speculations that the PDP had already shortlisted presidential hopefuls such as Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi, and Seyi Makinde, Ajibade dismissed it as individual opinion.
“What Senator Abba Moro has said is purely from his own perspective, looking at it and his entitlement to it. He’s a leader in the party and he can come up to say that this is what we are looking at.”
Ajibade rejected suggestions that Atiku Abubakar’s exit from the PDP signalled the weakening of the party. “How do you measure the important part of our party? Is it only Atiku that makes the party? If Atiku leaves the party, it means that the party is dead? I think I beg to disagree with that, your position. We have NWC that is intact.
Even the division, when you talk about division of a party, it starts from the NWC. As long as the NWC, they are still intact, can tell you that the party is still intact and they are together.”
Looking ahead, Ajibade said the PDP would continue reconciling and consolidating its base, and hinted at future surprises. “Yes, I can assure you, wait for, you should wait for surprises.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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