The Kaduna State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Edward Marshal, has declared that only the PDP, working in alliance with other opposition forces, has the structure and political reach to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Marshal made the declaration in Kaduna while receiving members of the Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim (GOH) Front, a political group that visited the PDP Secretariat to submit a petition to the party leadership.
According to him, no other party in Nigeria has the kind of spread, national visibility, and grassroots presence that the PDP has sustained over the years. He maintained that when the time comes, all opposition elements interested in rescuing the country from its current state of hardship would naturally align under the PDP’s leadership.
> “The PDP is the only political party with the structure to confront and defeat the APC at the polls. We are present in every ward, in every local government, and in every state of the federation. No other party has that kind of reach,” Marshal said.
He lamented the worsening socio-economic realities under the APC government, pointing to rising inflation, hunger, and a growing number of out-of-school children as symptoms of failed governance.
> “Nigerians are suffering. Families can no longer afford two meals a day, and children are dropping out of school because their parents cannot cope with the economic situation. This is why the people are yearning for change, and the PDP is ready to provide that alternative,” he stated.
Marshal also expressed optimism that the PDP’s forthcoming National Convention, scheduled for November, would serve as a rallying point for the opposition. He said the convention would reposition the party, strengthen its internal democracy, and attract defections from across the political divide, including members of the ruling APC who are dissatisfied with the present administration.
On the contentious issue of zoning the party’s presidential ticket to the South, Marshal clarified that while the NEC’s decision stands, zoning does not automatically exclude aspirants from other regions.
> “Zoning is a guide, but it does not close the door to any qualified Nigerian. What the PDP wants is a credible and capable candidate who can win elections and rescue this nation. That remains our ultimate priority,” he explained.
The GOH Front delegation, led by its coordinators, had submitted a petition urging the party leadership to reconsider zoning and keep the presidential ticket open to all aspirants. Marshal assured them that their concerns would be communicated to the National Secretariat and emphasized the party’s openness to dialogue.
He further called on opposition parties to put aside personal ambitions and unite for the larger interest of Nigerians.
> “If the goal is to save our people from the hardship they face, then we must come together. The coalition must be PDP-led, because the PDP is the only platform strong enough to challenge APC’s dominance,” he concluded.
The Kaduna PDP Chairman’s remarks come at a time when debates over political alignments, zoning, and coalition-building are gaining traction ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political analysts believe that the success or failure of such an alliance could significantly shape Nigeria’s political landscape in the next four years.
Tags
News