A member of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), and Legal Practitioner, Anthony Ehilebo has alleged that the APC is weakening opposition parties, declares that the coming 2027 elections will be about Nigerians and not political parties.
Ehilebo said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, where he shared insights on the PDP’s dynamics.
“I don’t believe 2027 will be about political parties; it will be about Nigerians”, he declared.
“It seems to me the APC is using ‘Trojan horses’ to perfect a strategy of demobilising political parties—you see this in the ADC, Labor Party, and NNPP”, Ehilebo alleged.
Responding to concerns over INEC’S timetable, Ehilebo admitted there is uncertainty within the PDP, but that resolution is still possible.
“There is uncertainty, but there is a pathway. The Appeal Court in Ibadan has told all parties to go and reconcile and come back for a consent judgment. Those at the center of these negotiations must remember that their political life started in the PDP. We have to appeal to their conscience. They have taken an axe to the party to show loyalty to whoever they serve, but in destroying the party, they are also destroying themselves. They cannot simply go to the APC and produce candidates there.”, he explained.
On what the PDP offers beyond rhetoric, Ehilebo pointed to its record and candidates as proof of its policy direction.
“PDP offers an understanding of governance. The APC has depleted public trust in all institutions. If you run a poll, 75% to 80% of people will tell you they have no faith in the judiciary or public institutions anymore”, he said.
Dismissing claims that he or his faction is negotiating from a position of weakness, Ehilebo said recent court rulings addressed only procedure and gave no faction authority.
“The court merely ruled that a specific convention should not have held; it didn’t seed power to that faction. It was more of a ‘filibustering’ statement for the FCT Minister to say he is in charge. He has followers who want to contest elections too, so he is in the same boat as the rest of the PDP.”
He added that no negotiation will prevent the party from presenting a candidate to challenge the current government.
“We will take the route that allows us to show that politics is about making concessions. However, as our Publicity Secretary said: no negotiation will end with us failing to present a candidate to challenge the President”, he stressed.
Ehilebo reiterated that the PDP remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerians.
“The PDP is the last stand against this oppressive government. We understand what Nigerians are going through”, Ehilebo concluded.
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