By Lateef Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has disclosed that it only depends on eligible voters to win elections and not on bigwigs.
The Chairman of PDP in Ondo State, Mr Modupe Aisida, stated this yesterday in Akure.
Aisida said that though many members including governors are leaving the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) PDP’s strength remains in the electorate.
“Look at what happened in Lagos. Tinubu, as a former Governor of Lagos State and Gov. Babajide Sanwolu lost in Lagos State during the 2023 presidential election.
“People were surprised because nobody saw it coming. Tinubu also lost in Osun State, his home state, in the presidential election. So, you can imagine the power of the people.
“That is why we should stop building strongmen. Whether you’re a governor or not, if you build strong institutions, people will exercise their franchise and they will make their choice known to everybody.
“For me, power resides with the people. I’m not bothered about most of those people who left the party.
“They rode in on the shoulder of the party, we worked for them, but we have moved on even nationally, we have moved on. It’s even good for the system.
“Let’s see how that will help some of these people who jumped ship in the next election. Thus, if we have free and fair election, then we’ll see how strong and popular they are.
“It’s about the people and that’s the truth. What the present scenario is telling us is that don’t rely on strong men in the party, rely on the ordinary folks out there,” he stated.
He questioned the rationale behind movement of many politicians to the ruling APC, stating that many defected because of their selfish interest.
According to him, the people should be educated and enlightened that electoral power lies in them so that they should stop selling their votes during elections.
The PDP chairman, who spoke on the perceived interest of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2027 presidential election, said that as a democratic party, PDP would give every aspirant the chance to exercise their democratic right.
“If former President Goodluck Jonathan decides to run, good, but the truth is, we are democrats. There will be primaries; we won’t prevent people who are interested from running. Everybody will be given that chance to exercise their democratic rights,” he said.
Aisida said that the party has corrected the mistake made in the build up to the 2023 presidential election, and had zoned the 2027 presidency to the southern part of the country.
He denied any faction or division in the party both at the state and national levels.
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