A prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu, has voiced concerns about the party’s ability to field a presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In an interview with Arise News on Thursday, Momodu criticized the ongoing crisis within the party and blamed President Bola Tinubu and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike for fueling the division.
The former presidential aspirant expressed doubt about the PDP’s readiness for the upcoming election, suggesting that the current leadership, particularly the National Working Committee, might not be prepared to contest the presidency in 2027. He raised concerns over the reported plan to nominate a South-South politician as the party’s presidential candidate, emphasizing that the party’s survival and ability to select a candidate were uncertain.
Momodu further explained that his criticism of President Tinubu’s administration stemmed from the actions of his associates, whom he accused of creating political chaos that hindered the growth of opposition parties. While he stated that he held no personal animosity toward President Tinubu, he expressed concern over the impact of these disruptions on the opposition.
In his remarks, Momodu also suggested that the President would eventually realize that his political allies were primarily motivated by self-preservation. He described their allegiance to Tinubu as a strategic move to maintain relevance after being sidelined by other political factions. He warned that these individuals were using Tinubu as a means of political survival, rather than offering genuine loyalty.
“I’m not worried about members that are adopted. That would be the decision of the members of the party, if the party survives till then. But from what I’m seeing right now, I don’t think they are ready, especially our NWC. They are not ready. I won’t be surprised if they announce that they are not interested in contesting the presidency in 2027,” he said.
“Personally, I have nothing against the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but I’m worried. As a man who made a huge impact as a pro-democracy activist, it is obvious that his cronies are misbehaving all over the place and making it difficult for the opposition to thrive.
“The maximum they would do is eight years, so after that, what next? It’s not about how long, it’s about how well. That’s why I’m advising a lot of people now who are holding onto Asiwaju; he would think they love him—No! It’s self-preservation because they lost out in one party, they ran to Asiwaju, and now they are using him as an umbrella when they should be holding the broom,” he added.