Lagos State governorship hopeful, Funso Doherty, has insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party stays a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that the existence of a reputable opposition is significant for the nation’s political well being.
Speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, November 4, Doherty dismissed studies that the PDP is on the breaking point, describing such claims as deceptive.
“The rumours of the death of PDP, I think, are greatly exaggerated,” he stated. “Do we have internal issues? Yes. Are there internal crises? Yes. But the battle for the soul of PDP that is going on is beyond PDP.”
Doherty defined that the continuing turmoil inside the celebration displays a bigger wrestle over the path of the nation’s democracy.
“It’s a battle for the soul of the party, but it’s also a larger battle for democracy in Nigeria. Because at the end of the day, if we don’t have opposition, we don’t have a democracy,” he said.
He maintained that regardless of waves of defection and infighting, the PDP nonetheless stands because the nation’s essential opposition celebration.
“If you look at the landscape today, PDP is the main opposition to the APC. Despite all the defections, the largest group of governors you will find remaining is in the PDP. In the National Assembly, the largest group you will find is the PDP,” he stated.
Doherty accused some components inside the celebration of advancing the pursuits of exterior actors, a scenario he stated has worsened the inner strife.
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“There are elements within the party that are loyal to interests that are outside the party. It is well known, for example, that the Minister of the FCT is serving in this present government… When you are in a position of conflicting interests, we have to take everything you say with a pinch of salt,” he said.
Responding to questions on inside divisions within the Lagos PDP, Doherty rejected ideas that the celebration had cut up into factions.
“I question the whole terminology of factions. I believe there are internal disagreements, yes, but I reject the term factionalisation,” he stated.
On his relationship with celebration chief Chief Olabode George, Doherty described it as cordial and expressed optimism forward of the celebration primaries.
“I’m interacting with a lot of the leadership, including Chief Olabode George, who is a father figure and one of the principal leaders. We have a great relationship. I have no fear that we will not succeed in the primaries,” he stated.
Doherty’s remarks adopted recent turmoil inside the PDP after loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly seized management of the celebration’s nationwide secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The transfer got here as members of the National Working Committee loyal to PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and National Chairman Umar Damagum, reportedly misplaced grip of the celebration construction amid a deepening energy wrestle.
