By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees and former member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri, has dismissed claims by Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that the PDP will cease to exist by 2025.

Onyereri asserted that the PDP remains resilient and will emerge stronger from its current challenges.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in Abuja on Monday, Onyereri emphasised the PDP’s strong foundation, likening the party’s internal struggles to a phase of pruning necessary for future growth.

He stated, “As the Bible says, once the foundation is strong, what can you build against it? The truth is, the PDP has a very strong foundation. Nothing can shake it. It was established on solid ground, and there is nothing that can undermine it.”

Onyereri expressed confidence that the PDP would overcome its difficulties and dismissed the significance of recent defections, stating that those who left had fulfilled their purpose within the party.

He added, “From what you see today, the array of personalities still within the PDP indicates that we are merely going through a phase of pruning. Just as seasonal pruning is necessary to yield a greater harvest, it is often a challenging process. That is precisely what we are experiencing now.”

Drawing on biblical references, Onyereri cited the unwavering faith of Christ despite the defection of some disciples.

He said, “I recall a relevant biblical example: even Christ Himself, at a critical moment, saw some of His disciples leave when He spoke about drinking His blood. The Bible tells us that some abandoned Him, but He did not halt His ministry. He pressed on. Similarly, this is what will happen with the PDP.”

Ganduje’s comments were made in response to former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido’s prediction that the APC would collapse and that its members, including Ganduje, would return to the PDP.

Ganduje dismissed Lamido’s claim as baseless, asserting that the APC is gaining momentum under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.

He pointed to the defection of prominent figures to the ruling party as evidence of the PDP’s supposed irreversible decline and predicted a strong APC victory in the 2027 general elections.

However, Onyereri’s response positions the PDP as a party determined to progress.

“We are moving forward, steadily and resolutely,” he stressed.