The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Bola Tinubu of using state power to harass and intimidate opposition governors into defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 general election.
Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, made the allegation on Monday during a press briefing at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Citing the ongoing local government administration crisis in Osun State, Ologunagba claimed that President Tinubu’s alleged refusal to release statutory local government allocations to the state was part of a wider strategy to force the PDP-controlled government into submission.
“This is part of the tactics—to intimidate and harass opposition governors to defect to the APC,” he said. “Why do you think he has refused to release allocations to local governments? Elections have been conducted and results declared.”
The PDP spokesperson also pointed to the low voter turnout in the recent Lagos local government elections as a sign of public disenchantment with the ruling APC.
“Only six percent of registered voters turned out to vote. One of their own leaders even admitted publicly that ‘the people didn’t vote for us’,” he noted, describing it as a “silent vote of no confidence.”
According to Ologunagba, “2027 is not about writing stories of success; it’s about what the people are saying. In 2027, they will speak louder with their votes, and they will vote the APC out.”
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Reacting to recent defections from the PDP to the APC, he said the party remains unfazed, even as it recognises the need to strengthen internal unity.
“Yes, as a party, we are concerned when people leave. But the strength of the PDP lies not in individuals—it is called the Peoples Democratic Party for a reason. We are built on the collective, not on ego.”
He urged Nigerians to “do a peer review” of PDP-controlled states compared to others.
“Check Osun and Oyo States. Look at achievements in agriculture, education, transportation, health, and ICT. The PDP is performing where it governs,” he asserted.
Ologunagba also reminded Nigerians that the PDP handed over a $550 billion economy in 2015, which he said has since plummeted to $180 billion under the APC-led administration.
Meanwhile, the party confirmed that it will hold its 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting this week, as scheduled by the 100th NEC on 30 June.
He said the meeting will include updates from the zoning and convention committees on progress with preparations and party reorganisation.
“All NEC members, as provided for in Section 31, Subsection 1 of our Constitution, are invited and expected to attend. We are a party governed by law, and we remain guided by our Constitution, last amended in 2017,” he said.
