ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fired an early salvo ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring its readiness to reclaim national power and rallying its former governors and ministers to rebuild the party’s cohesion and reconnect with voters.
The party’s National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja during a high-level interactive session with key figures from the PDP’s 16-year tenure at the federal level.
Addressing the gathering—which included former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and former Information Minister Labaran Maku, among others—Turaki painted a nostalgic picture of the PDP’s legacy, describing it as a “glorious era” whose achievements remain visible across Nigeria.
“When you speak about the 16 glorious years of PDP governance at the centre, you are also talking about the phenomenal work that our former ministers have done in terms of policy formulation, driving those policies, and executing projects that have impacted positively and profoundly on the lives of Nigerians,” Turaki stated.
He argued that despite efforts by political opponents to “malign PDP and past PDP leaders,” Nigerians remain nostalgic about the party’s time in power, citing economic growth, debt relief, and infrastructure development as enduring hallmarks of its rule.
The chairman pledged to sustain engagement with the party’s elders, whose experience he described as critical to the PDP’s revival. “We need to go back to the basics… beyond taking this party back to Nigerians, we need to look to more,” he added.
Former leaders back revival push
In his remarks, Ibrahim Shekarau, Chairman of the Former Ministers Forum, commended the current National Working Committee (NWC) for its courage and performance within a short period, recalling their determination to reclaim the party’s headquarters despite facing tear gas and threats.
“The chairman has done far more than we expected,” Shekarau said, adding that ordinary Nigerians are now saying, “please return us to where you took over from us.” He expressed confidence that courage and commitment, not just numbers, would deliver victory in 2027.
Babangida Aliyu, Chairman of the Former PDP Governors Forum, stressed that leadership means service and respect for the people. He urged the party to reconnect with the grassroots, reminding attendees that “majority of people don’t think of the skyscrapers you build, but they will always remember the good time they enjoyed.”
Aliyu concluded with a pointed critique of the current administration: “We have been a tattered nation. Since 2015, God has given us a leadership that I believe Nigerians today are cursing.”
The meeting marks one of the PDP’s clearest signals yet of a coordinated push toward the 2027 elections—banking on legacy, renewed unity, and a narrative of past performance to fuel its quest to return to power..
