We’ll not allow APC bully us in 2027 – Ogun PDP chair

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has vowed to resist any attempt by the All Progressives Congress to intimidate voters in the 2027 elections, insisting that the era of APC bullying opposition parties is over.

The party’s chairman, Abayomi Tella, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, accused the APC of deploying violence, voter intimidation, and other coercive tactics to secure victories in the 2023 elections and the recently held Remo Federal Constituency by-election.

He stated that the PDP is ready to match the APC’s tactics in 2027, stressing that the party would no longer allow any attempts to bully voters or manipulate the electoral process.

“The days when the APC could intimidate opposition parties during elections are over. Whatever they bring in 2027, we are ready to match it because we now have the people solidly behind us. Their shenanigans are over, and the 2027 election is going to be between APC and Nigerians, not even against PDP or any other party.

“There is no monopoly of violence, but as democrats, we will ignore violence because we believe the people are behind us, and they will vote for us. In 2027, PDP is coming stronger to counter APC’s violent methods,” Tella said.

He noted that it is no longer attractive for politicians to leave the PDP for the APC, arguing that many defectors have become mere spectators in their new party.

According to him, defectors struggle to find relevance because they were not part of the APC’s foundation or internal structure, often being sidelined for being absent when party members were working to secure power.

“It is no longer enviable for a politician to cross from PDP to APC because most of our members who have gone there have become onlookers. When the members of the party were working for their victory, the defectors were not there, so they are still treated as outsiders,” he added.

Speaking on the state of the PDP, Tella maintained that the party remains resilient despite challenges over the years. He described it as a political organisation with deep roots, insisting that efforts to weaken it have consistently failed.

“As far as I’m concerned, PDP is here to stay. The party can never die. If you try to kill it today, it will resurrect tomorrow. We are making frantic efforts to keep our people together,” Tella said.

He added that the party leadership is taking deliberate steps to strengthen internal unity and keep members aligned, noting that the PDP is focused on consolidating its base and preparing for a stronger showing in the upcoming political cycle.