The Bayelsa State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, George Turnah, has dismissed claims by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress that its structures and grassroots presence are strong enough to secure victory for President Bola Tinubu in the state in 2027.
Turnah said the APC’s confidence should be tested against the results of the 2023 presidential election, when the party polled fewer votes than both the PDP and Labour Party in Bayelsa.
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, on Sunday, the PDP chairman said the figures from the last presidential election showed that the APC would need broader political support to win the state.
Turnah said, “The PDP scored 65,145 votes, while the Labour Party and APC recorded 45,645 and 40,417 votes respectively. The reality is that the Bayelsa APC cannot afford to dismiss the significance of the Rainbow Coalition or the political value of the PDP without confronting the facts on ground; there’s no way Bayelsa APC can deliver Tinubu Alone, without a coalition.
“The 2027 contest will not be won by press statements, boasts about structures or claims of grassroots strength; it will be determined by the ability to build broad-based political support across communities, wards, local government areas and the wider electorate.”
He also pointed to changes in the political landscape since 2023, particularly the emergence of Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
According to Turnah, the Rainbow Coalition could play a significant role in determining the level of support available to Tinubu in Bayelsa ahead of the 2027 poll.
He added, “The support of the PDP and the Rainbow Coalition is not a peripheral matter; it is central and indispensable if President Tinubu is to win Bayelsa State.”
Turnah urged the APC to focus less on public claims about its political strength and more on building wider support across the state.
He said the PDP would continue to strengthen its structures and maintain engagement with its members, adding that its involvement in broader political discussions should not be interpreted as weakness.
“The 2027 election is still ahead. The political debate at this time should therefore focus on issues that matter to Bayelsans, including development, infrastructure, employment, economic opportunity, poverty eradication, security, education and healthcare,” Turnah stated.
He maintained that Bayelsans would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election in the state.