The National Deputy Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Engr. Adedeji Doherty, has expressed optimism about the party’s bright prospects in the 2027 general elections, stating that ongoing reconciliation efforts will strengthen its position across Nigeria.
Engr. Doherty, who belongs to the PDP’s faction of Barr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, stated this during an interview in Lagos State on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Doherty acknowledged internal crises within the party but said efforts were underway to restore unity and regain public confidence.
He noted that the PDP remains strong at the grassroots level, with many members returning as internal reforms take shape.
“We see the future of the PDP turning out for the better. We can admit today that we have some crisis that are being resolved.
“However, we are going to make sure that we are able to fuse most of our members together so that the 2027 election will not just be a winner-take-all kind of situation.
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“Definitely, you are going to see us show up on the National Assembly level, on the governorship level, and on the senatorial level also.
“When you talk about the PDP, you talk about the people and the grassroots because they are the majority. In every ward in Nigeria today, you will still see a lot of PDP members come out.
“We are ready for reconciliation, we are open to suggestions, our national leader, Nyesom Wike, who is the FCT minister, has always told us that we should open our doors to reconciliation but we should make sure that everybody on the table is there with clean hands and that is what we are doing,” the PDP National Deputy Secretary said.
On party administration, Doherty said recent congresses were conducted through consensus, describing the process as peaceful and inclusive.
“In PDP today, what we did was that we went to consensus at the ward level, picked our ward chairman and executives, which was quite successful, very peaceful.
“We also picked our local government officers, right from the local government chairman up to the woman leader and youth leader, and it was also peaceful.
“It took us some time at the state level because our state congress was supposed to be earlier, and we had to go back and forth, trying to come up with a consensus state chairman.
“However, finally, during the recent Lagos State PDP congress, we were able to have close to 15 local governments that supported Mr. Muka Popoola from Agege Local Government, who comes from the Salomi’s extraction, and we know that he is up to the task.”
On national governance, Doherty commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for distributing a significant portion of fuel subsidy savings to state governments, describing the move as a step that could enhance development at the subnational level.
However, he questioned the impact of such funds in Lagos State, citing persistent poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure deficits.
“Now, Mr. President has been magnanimous enough to take the first subsidy savings and give close to 90% of it to the various states, especially the various state governments.”
“So, really and truly, if we ask ourselves, why are people in Lagos still poor? Why are they still living underneath the bridge? Why do they still have shanties around? Why are they breaking shanties and leaving them homeless? Medically, why are people dying? Why are the young ones having high blood pressure? Why is mortality rising up, even in Lagos state? So, these questions will definitely give you a view of what the priorities of the Lagos State government are.
“…The population of Lagos state has moved from maybe about 15 million people; it’s now hitting like 20, 25 million people after about 10 years.”
“Now, if you see the exponential increase in population, you have more youths in Lagos State, what is their future like? When you have a government that continues to tax the industrial sector, the manufacturing sector, the production sector, the real sector of the economy, and you know that Lagos state is the heartbeat of the entire country, then you are indirectly working against the renewed hope that Mr. President stands for.”
Despite this, the PDP National Deputy Secretary called for improved governance at the state level, including greater investment in youth empowerment, vocational training, and public infrastructure, arguing that such initiatives would help reduce unemployment and social vices.
Engineer Doherty also acknowledged Tinubu’s political experience and influence, particularly in the South-West, noting that the president has played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
“Mr. President seems to be a lone ranger as far as the president is concerned. Because this is a man who was there during the military regime, he has been a senator and a two-time governor.
“He has also revolutionized political terrains, expanded his tentacles into the southwest, and then moved up to go for presidency.
“Nigeria is evolving, democracy is evolving, and the terrain, some specific molders of democracy will come, do their thing, and go.
“I think Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of those who have come to move democracy in whatever direction. After his second term, I believe that, with the participation he has made, for us to even get to the democratic space in Nigeria today, it’s a plus.
“So I believe that, especially in the southwest, and within the Yoruba house, I think he bears his name, Asiwaju. We believe, as a king’s man of the Yoruba race, I believe he’s doing well for the Yoruba people.”
Looking ahead, Doherty reiterated his commitment to the development of Lagos State, noting that while he has contested political offices in the past, his primary focus remains contributing to the state and nation’s growth.
The PDP leader maintained that the PDP is positioning itself to make gains in governorship, National Assembly, and other elections in 2027, while consultations continue ahead of the presidential race.
