A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Ogidi, has said that members who recently defected from the party will eventually return, insisting that they still carry the spirit of the PDP.
Ogidi made the remark during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, where he spoke on the internal challenges facing the opposition party.
According to him, the crisis within the PDP was largely self-inflicted, but the party has taken steps to stabilise itself, including the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his allies.
Ogidi maintained that despite recent defections, the PDP’s foundation remains intact, stressing that the party is more focused on providing good governance than merely winning power.
“They may have taken some of our members, but I can tell you that those people will still come back because they have the soul of the PDP in their hearts,” he said.
He described the PDP as the true embodiment of federalism and democracy in Nigeria, noting that the party has remained consistent in its vision since 1999.
“We may have lost some members, but we did not lose the base of the party. The base is still strong, and it lies with the grassroots,” Ogidi said, adding that while some leaders at the top have left, such movements were expected.
He further stated that although the APC government and the Wike-led group dealt the party a major blow, the PDP is gradually recovering and regaining its footing.