PDP governors deny claims of supporting El-Rufai/Obi 2027 presidential ticket

PDP governors deny claims of supporting El-Rufai/Obi 2027 presidential ticket

By Jeffrey Agbo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has dismissed claims that some of its members are working to support a potential 2027 presidential ticket featuring former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Forum’s Director-General, Emmanuel Agbo, the PDP Governors’ Forum—led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed—emphasised that its governors will support whoever emerges as the party’s presidential candidate through due process.

This response follows reports from some media outlets alleging that five PDP governors were backing an El-Rufai/Obi ticket within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The forum strongly condemned the report, calling it a baseless and provocative publication.

“It is incumbent on the PDP Governors’ Forum through its leadership anchored by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, to openly denounce and in very strong terms, the unpleasant and provoking publications and rumours being peddled ad nauseam by negative forces and their agents who cannot absorb the temerity of this Forum to question their incapacities in leadership by performing above the limits imposed by their failed economic policies and programs, which have left the ordinary Nigerian with nothing other than poverty and financial hardship down to the remote locations,” the statement read.

READ MORE: El-Rufai chose not to attend NEC Meeting – APC spokesman

“Unsatisfied with the results their clones have gotten in the low-willed factions they keep financing within our party structure, they have proceeded with direct confrontation on the Governors towards creating a one-party entrapment, with intention to split the opposition and thereby cripple democratic institutions and values through questionable adoptions and misinterpretation of the law, all to strangle the lifeline of our nation to enforce dictatorship and one-party rule.

“The PDP Governors’ Forum does not align with these actors, neither does it enjoy any ambience of political space to discuss nor seal the auction of the PDP through lowlife grifters who are allegedly working behind the scenes to support a potential Nasir El-Rufai/Peter Obi presidential ticket in the 2027 election.”

The forum reaffirmed that it does not align with such actors and has no involvement in any alleged support for an El-Rufai/Obi ticket.

“It is obvious that these mischief makers and detractors, who are bewildered at the way and manner PDP Governors are daily performing to pull the people out of economic hardship despite the intimidation by the ruling APC, are only intimidated and can only throw mud at our good works,” the statement continued.

“In the world of politics, rumours and speculations are common, as such, we will not allow these enemies of Progress and agents of confusion to gaslight the Nigerian people to draw wrong and erroneous conclusions.

“Our principles are for equity, social justice, sincerity of purpose, accountability, enthronement of undefiled electoral process, enhancement of the lives of the people, and propagation of humanity.

“Suffice it for us to irrevocably state here that in 2027, PDP Governors as disciplined leaders and stakeholders will exemplify this by wholeheartedly supporting whoever emerges as the flag-bearer of our great party in the battle to wrestle power from the non-performers at the centre.”