PDP Dismisses Tinubu’s 2027 Endorsements as ‘Panic Mode’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the wave of endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing it as a sign of desperation within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the APC’s moves reflected “a clear failure of governance.” He accused the ruling party of seeking endorsements from political groups and leaders to mask its shortcomings rather than allowing performance to speak for itself.

In recent weeks, President Tinubu has received endorsements from the Progressive Governors Forum, the APC National Working Committee, Zonal Leaders, and some opposition figures. However, the PDP argued that these gestures amount to “endorsement shopping,” a tactic employed because of the APC’s inability to deliver on governance.

PDP Prepares for National Convention

Ologunagba reiterated the PDP’s readiness to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections, pointing to the party’s upcoming National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, as a key step toward regaining power.

“The PDP is back, fully set, and Nigerians are waiting eagerly for us to restore hope and unity,” he declared. According to him, the party’s focus remains on reconciliation, inclusiveness, and mobilising citizens toward a credible democratic process.

He argued that if the APC had truly performed well, endorsements would be unnecessary. “Let your achievements endorse you,” he said, maintaining that the rush for political backing is evidence that “the ruling party is in panic mode.”

Calls for Electoral Reforms Ahead of 2027

Beyond political rivalry, the PDP also emphasised the need for urgent electoral reforms. Ologunagba called for amendments to Nigeria’s electoral laws to mandate the real-time transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) central portal.

He questioned the recurring glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, describing them as “deliberate institutional manipulations.” He drew comparisons with the reliability of everyday financial technology, noting that point-of-sale (POS) machines and ATMs operate seamlessly across the country, even in remote villages.

“The 2027 elections must be seamless, credible, and transparent,” Ologunagba stressed. “There should be no excuses or glitches because the infrastructure exists to make electronic transmission work. Any attempt to undermine the rights of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders will be resisted.”