Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not dead, adding that he will not go to the gutters with anybody.
He spoke during a PDP Southern Consultative Summit held in Lagos on Thursday, ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled to hold on Monday, 25 August, 2025.
Governor Makinde asserted that PDP will be a virile, united platform that Nigerians will be proud of and support ahead of the 2027 general election.
He also disclosed that the leadership of the party remained committed to giving a credible alternative to Nigerians in the coming general election.
The meeting had in attendance PDP national leaders from Southern Nigeria, including the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, governors, serving and former National Assembly members and former governors.
Makinde said the PDP is not dead, adding that, if it puts in the hard work, Nigerians would not only listen to the party, but will also support it to bring about a better Nigeria.
He noted that the summit discussed the issues of zoning, micro-zoning of party positions, among others and that some of the discussions will unfold in the coming days.
Makinde, however, stated that the focus at the moment is to rebuild the PDP and not about presidential candidates and other related matters.
According to him, the outcome of last Saturday’s by-elections held across the country, in which the PDP either won or came second, was an indication that, despite the challenges it is facing, the party can bounce back and reclaim its place as the ruling party in the country and the leaders were ready and willing to put in the hard work.
Makinde maintained that the PDP Consultative Summit was held to foster inclusiveness, which according to him, is the beauty of democracy and to take some decisions.
He noted that the calibre of people in attendance meant that they are committed to rebuilding the party and ensuring that it takes its rightful place.
He said: “Democracy is about the minority having their say and the majority having their way. That is democracy. So, we are democrats.
“The South has taken far-reaching decisions and, in the days ahead, leading to our NEC, wider consultations will also take place.
“We are sure that those that have been saying that PDP is dead and now a carcass, will know that, at least, with the calibre of people that you have seen here, sitting governors, former governors, leaders and elders, a former senate president, Chairman of BOT, we are all here and committed to PDP taking back its rightful position in Nigeria.
“So, in the days ahead, some of the things discussed here, you will see them unfold.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke is here. He came back into this country this morning, and then he went straight to Osogbo to address some governance issues. But he said whatever we decide here, he is with us.
“Governor Duoye Diri is here. Governor Peter Mba, who couldn’t make it here physically, sent the deputy governor here. You have the Chairman of our BoT here. You also have, at least, 12 of the 17 members of the Zoning Committee from the South. It is one per state.
“So, you have 12 states here. We also have National Assembly members and PDP BoT members from the three zones in the South here.
“We are here for consultation and consultation means you keep reaching out, you keep engaging. So, from this meeting, we will also reach out and engage and even do more.
“What exactly are we trying to do? We are trying to get all stakeholders, all tendencies in the PDP together so that we can give a credible alternative to Nigerians in the years ahead.
“Yes, we discussed zoning and micro-zoning and a decision is coming. It is a NEC decision.
“This consultative meeting is not something that is statutory in the Constitution of PDP, but democracy is inclusivity, reaching out, and ensuring that all stakeholders are carried along, which is what we’ve done today.
“NEC is on Monday; today is Thursday. We will definitely have a decision. We have not even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidate, presidency.
“If we don’t have a party, anything that you are trying to do will fall flat. So, our effort right now is directed towards having a virile and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in.”
Makinde equally declared that he would not join issues with anyone in the party, but continue to reach out to all tendencies and interests with a view to making the PDP a beautiful bride for Nigerians.
He said: “Personally, when people go low or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. We will reach out to them. That is democracy. We will reach out to them. I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here.
“It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching. We want to give a virile PDP.
“In Oyo State, Nigerians showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead and in most other places of the 12 states where by-elections took place, PDP came second.
“It is an indication to us that, if we continue to work hard, if we continue to strive hard, if we continue to bring our people together, we will get to a point where Nigerians will really start listening to us.”
The summit had in attendance Chairman, PDP BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa State governor, Senator Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Peter Mba of Enugu State, who was represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai.
Also in attendance were the former Osun and Akwa Ibom states’ governors, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dr Sam Egwu and Udom Emmanuel; and former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George.
Others present at the consultative summit included National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.
